A recent six-month, prospective cohort study has discovered three essential strategies. These strategies go a long way toward reducing or preventing muscle loss in older adults using GLP-1 weight loss medications. To start, we ran the study with a relatively small cohort of 200 adults aged 18 to 65. We limited our analyses to those being considered for weight management, defined as having a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Participants in these trials were randomized to receive the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide or the dual GLP-1/GIP agonist tirzepatide.
The study underscores the importance of close supervision by obesity medicine specialists for safe and effective weight loss. Consistent check-ins with these trained specialists support muscle mass preservation throughout the transition. Alexandra Filingeri, a researcher on the study, said there were some very promising results. She described helping patients achieve their fat mass loss goals with minimal loss of muscle mass attributable to direct supervision and frequent follow-up by an obesity medicine specialist.
The researchers estimated body composition specifically by looking at body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass. Then they measured these outcomes at baseline, three months, and six months after initiating treatment. Filingeri made the case for these measurements. He pointed out that unlike most other studies, this study measured body composition—specifically, body fat mass, muscle mass, and total body weight—in patients at three points: baseline, three months, and six months on GLP/GIP weight loss medications. These results show that with appropriate support, patients are capable of significantly impacting their fat mass. With a proper high-protein diet, consistent resistance training, and training from a knowledgeable medical professional, they can drastically reduce muscle loss.
Though the results are indeed promising, Filingeri warned that these findings are not applicable everywhere. She pointed out that the findings can’t be generalized to patients who obtain treatment via telehealth or face-to-face appointments. This restriction applies only if routine body composition analysis is prohibited. This underscores the importance of realizing how different approaches to medication administration and monitoring can lead to different outcomes.
Mir Ali, MD, a board-certified general surgeon and co-author on the study, understands this significance of the study’s findings. He is the medical director of the MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Though he wasn’t involved in the research, he had an especially thoughtful remark. He added, “This study is a clear demonstration that muscle gain is possible during substantial weight loss.” His experiences highlight the fine line between effective weight loss and compromising muscle structure and integrity.
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