Users of GLP-1 medications have shared their concerns after some found their weight loss was accompanied by an unexpected side effect.
Products like Wegovy, which has been approved for chronic weight management, and Ozempic, which is approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, work by helping to quiet 'food noise' to prevent thoughts about food and cravings.
While their success is apparent for many, users have also reported some surprising impacts of such medications, including to sex drive and bowel habits.
But while some of these side effects are inconvenient, there is one that is proving more impactful to users in the day-to-day - a loss of muscle mass.
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In a post on a Wegovy subreddit, one user wrote: "I started at 203 and I’m down to 171 since April, so my experience overall has been great. But I’ve been noticing how extremely weak my legs have been."
They continued: "My calves hurt after a day of light walking, or my thighs hurt from going up just a few stairs. I actually struggle to go up a stair case and I’m only 32. I know a lot of people are working out, and I do need to begin exercising on top of the wegovy, but I’m just wondering if anyone else is experiencing extreme weakness or if it’s just me and my un-toned self."
Meanwhile, on an Ozempic subreddit, one user asked for advice on building muscle as they posted: "I'm on 2mg, been taking about a year. I'm type 2 so it wasn't really meant for weight loss. I'm 6'1 177# I was about 230 when I started. My legs are skinny, I lost muscle mass in my arms. I feel awkward, and a bit self conscious. I know I'm out of shape. How do I go about getting some muscle back[?]... I don't want to spend a fortune on a gone gym. I'm hoping there's something I can do to gain some muscle back. Is it even possible while taking oz?"
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Earlier this year, the University of Utah released a study in which it reported that Ozempic-induced weight loss decreased lean mass by about 10 percent, with the majority of the lost weight coming from tissues like the liver.
Co-author Ran Hee Choi, PhD, noted that loss of mass in metabolically active organs such as the liver is expected as part of healthy weight loss, though the researchers emphasized that more needs to be conducted to determine whether similar changes may occur in humans, and whether they may come with any risks.
In studies conducted on mice, the researchers also found that some skeletal muscles shrunk, on average, by about six percent.
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When tests were conducted on the mice's strength, the researchers found that, for some muscles, strength decreased even when the size of the muscle stayed roughly the same, while other muscle strength remained unchanged.
When contacted for comment on potential loss of muscle mass, Novo Nordisk told UNILAD: "In clinical trials for Wegovy or Ozempic we did not specifically study the medicine’s impact on muscle mass. In a sub-study of 140 patients with a BMI of 40 or less conducted as part of the STEP 1 trial, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) analyses suggested that treatment with Wegovy was accompanied by reductions in both fat mass and lean body mass, with a greater reduction in fat mass than lean body mass.
"We recommend that any patients experiencing side effects while taking Wegovy or Ozempic contact their healthcare provider."
In order to make the most of GLP-1 medications, pharmacist Nayan Patel told Vox users must also 'change their habits'.
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Alongside the medications, Patel stressed the importance of introducing a high-protein diet delivering a lot of amino acids and taking part in strength training, allowing the body to be more effective at trimming fat without compromising core strength.
Patel said: “If you don’t change your behavior, if you don’t change your habits, you may be looking good, you may be losing weight, but metabolically, your body is in turmoil. We’ve got to use these drugs in the right manner.”
Topics: Ozempic, Weight loss, Health, Food and Drink, Science
Emily Brown