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WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS: HIDDEN DANGERS







GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are frequently featured in the news for their potential for quick weight loss. Still, new research from the University of Virginia is sounding the alarm: while you might be dropping pounds, you could also be losing valuable muscle—and that could have long-term consequences for your health.

The UVA team acknowledges these drugs can be life-changing for people with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or heart failure. Patients often see better blood sugar levels, improvements in heart and kidney function, and sometimes even longer lives. But there’s a significant downside: the weight lost isn’t all fat. A considerable portion is muscle, which is essential for strength, movement, and heart health.

“Some of my patients have told me they can actually feel their muscles wasting away,” says Dr. Zhenqi Liu, a professor at UVA’s School of Medicine. “That’s concerning. Muscle isn’t just for athletes—it’s critical for posture, daily activity, and staying healthy as we age. Too much muscle loss can increase your risk for heart trouble and shorten your lifespan.” Liu and his colleagues urge anyone starting these medications to get screened for low muscle mass or signs of malnutrition—and to focus on more than just taking a pill.

Here’s why that matters: muscle makes up 40-50% of your body’s fat-free mass. When people lose weight on GLP-1 drugs, anywhere from a quarter to nearly half of that loss comes from muscle, not just fat. That’s a much steeper drop than the gradual muscle loss most people experience with age. The research team, including Dr. Siddhartha Angadi, reviewed the latest studies and found that while these drugs can help some measures of heart health, they don’t improve cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF)—your body’s ability to use oxygen during exercise, which is linked to long-term health and survival. Their review highlights that CRF is a much stronger predictor of lifespan than body weight alone.

So, what can you do? Exercise seems to help, but most studies looking at exercise plus GLP-1 therapy are small and not very robust. The UVA team says we need bigger, better studies to figure out the best way to preserve muscle and build fitness for people on these meds.

For now, experts suggest a few key steps: make sure you’re eating enough protein, keep moving, and talk with your doctor about your risks before starting GLP-1 treatment. The American Diabetes Association now recommends screening for malnutrition and muscle loss before anyone starts these medications.

There are promising new treatments on the horizon—like monoclonal antibodies to protect muscle—but they’re not widely available yet. Until then, remember: fast weight loss isn’t the whole story. If you’re using Ozempic or a similar drug, don’t just focus on the number on the scale—pay attention to your strength and fitness, too.

Want expert guidance to lose weight safely while building and protecting muscle? ProTime-Fitness can help. Visit ProTime-Fitness.org to connect with certified trainers and nutritionists who’ll personalize a plan just for you. Your health is about more than just pounds lost—make sure you’re getting the proper support for your body and your future.

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