{"id":542213,"date":"2026-06-18T20:04:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:04:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/542213\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T20:04:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T20:04:20","slug":"glp-1-users-may-be-making-a-major-weight-loss-mistake-new-study-suggests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/542213\/","title":{"rendered":"GLP-1 users may be making a major weight-loss mistake, new study suggests"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among those taking GLP-1 medications for\u00a0weight loss<\/a>, exercise rates are decreasing, according to new research.<\/p>\n

The study, set to be presented at ENDO 2026 (the Endocrine Society\u2019s annual meeting) in Chicago this week, found that\u00a0adults with obesity<\/a>\u00a0who lost weight with a GLP-1, such as Ozempic<\/a> or Wegovy<\/a>, \u201csignificantly reduced\u201d their physical activity.<\/p>\n

In an Endocrine Society press release, study lead Sajana Maharjan, MD, of HSHS St. John\u2019s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, noted that GLP-1 drugs<\/a> like semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide and tirzepatide reduce both fat and lean muscle mass.<\/p>\n

This means physical activity<\/a> is \u201cessential for preserving strength and\u00a0long-term health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The study, reportedly the first of its kind, considered data from a National Institutes of Health research program that linked participant records with fitness<\/a> tracker activity.<\/p>\n

Researchers analyzed data from 753 people with obesity<\/a> who initiated a GLP-1 medication<\/a>. The cohort was mostly female, at a mean age of 52.7 years.<\/p>\n

Among those taking GLP-1 medications for\u00a0weight loss, exercise rates are decreasing, according to new research. alones \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

The study, reportedly the first of its kind, considered data from a National Institutes of Health research program that linked participant records with fitness tracker activity. Rido \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

Comparing activity in participants before and after beginning treatment, the average number of steps decreased from 5,047 to 4,487 per day. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell from 28 to 22 minutes per day, the study found.<\/p>\n

The largest declines were observed in men and in those with joint or muscle pain. Other factors like age, heart failure<\/a> or\u00a0prior stroke\u00a0did not change results.<\/p>\n

Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased\u00a0physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to Maharjan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe findings in our study reinforce that exercise<\/a> cannot be optional for people taking these medications,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased\u00a0physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to Sajana Maharjan. mbruxelle \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

The study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could only display an association, not a direct cause. The participants were also mostly\u00a0middle-aged women, which could limit the scope of who is most impacted, the researchers noted.<\/p>\n

Other factors that were not measured include exercise habits<\/a> before starting treatment, motivation levels and guidance from a physician.<\/p>\n

Dr. Peter Balazs MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, echoed in an interview with Fox News Digital that weight loss<\/a> does not automatically lead to increased mobility or greater motivation to exercise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, being in a calorie deficit can cause the body to conserve energy, resulting in a lower\u00a0metabolic rate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAdditionally, side effects of weight-loss medications<\/a>, such as nausea, fatigue<\/a> or\u00a0gastrointestinal discomfort, may further reduce a person\u2019s ability or desire to be physically active,\u201d the expert added.<\/p>\n

For GLP-1 users<\/a>, Balazs stressed that exercise<\/a> \u201cis not optional.\u201d Patients must incorporate\u00a0resistance training<\/a>\u00a0and regular daily movement, like walking, into their routine to \u201cpreserve lean muscle mass, maintain metabolic health and support long-term weight management,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n

\u201cExercise<\/a> plays a critical role during\u00a0weight loss<\/a>,\u201d Balazs said. \u201cWithout adequate physical activity, a significant portion of weight loss may come from muscle rather than fat.\u201d<\/p>\n

The expert noted that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as the timing, intensity and type of workout<\/a> should be individualized based on a person\u2019s fitness level, health status and body composition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is particularly important for patients with a high BMI who may have mobility limitations or lower baseline fitness levels,\u201d Balazs said. \u201cIt\u2019s important to consider injury risk, long-term adherence and the potential for early burnout.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contrasting views<\/p>\n

Board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn said she disagrees with this study\u2019s conclusions, as they do not reflect what she is seeing in her own\u00a0clinical practice.<\/p>\n

Board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn said she disagrees with this study\u2019s conclusions, as they do not reflect what she is seeing in her own\u00a0clinical practice. myskin \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

\u201cWeight loss<\/a> often serves as the impetus that motivates patients to become more physically active and more engaged in their overall health,\u201d the New York-based expert told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe success of GLP-1<\/a> therapy is directly tied to the expertise of the provider,\u201d she went on. \u201cWhen these medications are prescribed thoughtfully \u2013 with attention to nutrition<\/a>, resistance training, body composition and laboratory monitoring \u2013 they can help patients lose weight while becoming healthier, stronger and more motivated to exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kahn, a peptide prescriber, does not recommend simply prescribing a GLP-1 medication<\/a> and allowing the patient to \u201cself-manage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my practice, if a patient is unable to exercise, is not meeting\u00a0protein goals\u00a0or shows concerning muscle loss<\/a> on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication \u2013 because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If a GLP-1 patient<\/a> becomes too fatigued to exercise, develops nutritional deficiencies or loses excessive muscle mass, Kahn warned that this reflects a \u201cmonitoring problem\u201d rather than a medication problem, as these medications \u201crequire close clinical oversight.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Among those taking GLP-1 medications for\u00a0weight loss, exercise rates are decreasing, according to new research. The study, set…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":542214,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[274],"tags":[18,539,1950,135,19,17,462,7176,2927,14176,564],"class_list":["post-542213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-eire","tag-exercise","tag-glp-1","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-medication","tag-obesity","tag-ozempic","tag-study-says","tag-weight-loss"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116772907731369068","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542213","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=542213"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/542213\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/542214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=542213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=542213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=542213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}