Latest research have raised alarms about GLP-1 medicine, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, highlighting that a good portion of the burden misplaced might come from lean muscle mass. In actual fact, some research report that reductions in lean mass vary between 40% and 60% as a proportion of complete weight misplaced.
Nevertheless, Dr. Darshan Shah, board-certified surgeon, well being and wellness specialist, makes it clear: It’s not the drug, it’s what folks do (or don’t do) whereas taking it that makes the distinction. This muscle loss isn’t an inevitable aspect impact of the remedy itself. As a substitute, it’s typically as a result of sufferers in most of the revealed research not being correctly educated on sustaining muscle throughout their weight reduction journey. “Folks in these research are given GLP-1s with none steering on protein consumption, energy coaching, or metabolic well being. After all they’re shedding muscle,” says Dr. Shah.
Muscle loss doesn’t should be a given. Should you use GLP-1s strategically, you’ll be able to lose fats whereas holding—and even gaining—muscle. For ladies, the stakes are even increased.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a board-certified OB/GYN, factors out that getting old already predisposes girls to muscle loss and declining bone density, making it much more essential to protect lean mass throughout weight reduction.
“Girls ought to pay attention to this potential impact and keep on high of it with their healthcare suppliers; commonly monitoring muscle mass can be sure that weight reduction doesn’t compromise general well being, significantly as girls navigate the bodily adjustments that include getting old,” she says.
Dr. Shepherd provides that sustaining a nutritious diet with ample protein consumption and incorporating energy coaching workout routines may also help mitigate muscle loss. “By integrating focused energy coaching, girls can shield their bones, keep mobility, and assist long-term well being.”
Why Do GLP-1 Medicine Trigger Muscle Loss?
Dr. Shah explains that individuals are shedding muscle on GLP-1s for one major purpose: “They aren’t consuming sufficient protein and energy.” The intense urge for food suppression causes many to unknowingly eat too few vitamins to maintain muscle tissue.
On high of that, there’s one other issue at play: Many individuals on GLP-1s grow to be much less lively. Whereas not but extensively studied, Dr. Shah sees this development in sufferers. “I imagine folks on these medicine typically really feel decrease vitality and, consequently, they transfer much less, work out much less, and finally lose extra muscle mass than they should.” Plus, he provides, with out the stress from muscular tissues on bones, bones can have extra breakdown versus constructing. “So that you’ll completely lose bone mass as effectively,” he says.
Dr. Arnold Avendano is a metabolic well being skilled and a former ER physician with 20 years of expertise. Avendano, who now focuses on useful drugs, says that mineral deficiency is one more rising concern. Decrease meals consumption means decrease mineral consumption, decreased intestine biodiversity, and decrease absorption price. “The mineral standing of sufferers on GLP-1s might swing out of steadiness, which in flip can have a detrimental impression on lean mass and bone mineral density,” he says. “With out key minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium, muscle perform and bone well being take a success.”
How To Lose Fats, Not Muscle, on GLP-1 Medicine
Docs like Dr. Shah, and Dr. Avendano, who work within the useful drugs area, have a battle-tested protocol for sufferers utilizing GLP-1 medicine with out sacrificing muscle. Right here’s what you have to do:
- Prioritize protein
- Energy practice
- Complement correctly
They advocate 5 key dietary supplements that will assist keep muscle and metabolic well being whereas on GLP-1s:
- Creatine: Helps muscle retention and restoration.
- Vitamin D + K2: Essential for bone and muscle well being.
- Omega-3s: Helps with irritation and restoration.
- Magnesium: Helps muscle perform and insulin sensitivity.
- A high-quality multivitamin: To cowl any micronutrient gaps.
Enhance your intestine well being
Your intestine microbiome performs a significant position in your metabolic perform. To assist the physique grow to be extra environment friendly in rising its ranges of endogenous GLP-1, Dr. Shah recommends taking a probiotic pressure referred to as Akkermansia muciniphila. It’s been proven to assist wholesome glucose metabolism, intestine barrier perform, and GLP-1 secretion. “There’s numerous analysis behind it,” he says, including, “I’m an enormous believer in Akkremansia as only a upkeep complement. So, I hold my sufferers on it.”
Cycle your GLP-1 use and observe progress
Neither Avendano nor Shah believes GLP-1 medicine ought to be a long-term crutch. Avendano says that with long-term use, sufferers can plateau when utilizing these medicines. “That’s why I like to recommend biking on and off to advertise wholesome variations with out turning into depending on the drug,” he explains.
Dr. Shah provides that “we use them as a jump-start to assist folks reset their metabolism and relationship with meals, however they shouldn’t be a perpetually answer.” He stated his strategy additionally consists of monitoring a number of blood biomarkers corresponding to APOB ranges, LDL, triglyceride, C-reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and serum insulin ranges. Plus, he advises a lot of his sufferers to make use of steady glucose screens to evaluate metabolic enhancements.
The Backside Line
The well being trade wants extra analysis to completely perceive how these GLP-1 agonists impression long-term well being. Dr. Avendano says he’s curious to see what future outcomes will reveal as soon as we now have 10+ years value of information on affected person well being and metabolic perform.
However for now, analysis reveals that these medicine, very like many prescription medicines, do provide advantages however not with out trade-offs. So when you suppose you want a little bit nudge on the burden loss division, as a substitute of utilizing them as a fast repair, be good about it.
Take them with the intention to assist wean off of processed meals and alcohol, enhance your relationship with meals, and construct sustainable habits that assist long-term metabolic well being. Prioritize protein consumption, resistance coaching, and key vitamins to guard your muscle mass and bone density. Monitor your progress with common checkups and work with a healthcare supplier to make sure you’re shedding fats—not energy.
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