Ozempic can cause major loss of muscle mass and reduce bone density

Sarcopenic obesity mimics obesity

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Many people taking glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) experience rapid weight loss.

“According to a clinical trial of Ozempic, after 68 weeks on the medication, 86.4% of participants lost 5% or more of their body weight, and 69.1% lost 10% or more of their body weight.”

While weight loss can bring about health benefits, losing weight rapidly can also cause a decrease in muscle mass, lessen bone density, and lower your resting metabolic rate, leading to sarcopenia — the gradual loss of muscle mass, strength, and function.

“Sarcopenia affects the elderly population and typically is associated with aging. However, rapidly losing weight with GLP-1s like Ozempic or Wegovy without the proper diet and exercise can also cause sarcopenia (sometimes referred to as ‘skinny fat’) at any age, negatively affecting a person’s quality of life by reducing their stamina and ability to perform daily activities, such as easily walking up stairs,” Dr. Rekha Kumar, a practicing endocrinologist in NYC and Chief Medical Officer of Found said.

Sarcopenic obesity mimics obesity, she added, and occurs when a person’s BMITrusted Source is in the normal or low range, but their levels of lean muscle are so low that fat and bones are the only metabolically active tissue.

“[It’s] important to note that a lower body weight does not always mean that a person is healthier. After some weight loss is achieved and a person reaches a plateau, it is important to assess body composition.”

What the science says about sarcopenia and GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic

Data that is raising concern about sarcopenia as it relates to GLP-1 drugs is driven by a small portion of participants who underwent DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), which measures bone mineral density using spectral imaging, said Dr. Karl Nadolsky, endocrinologist and diplomate at the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

“Of this subset, the total mass loss was nearly 14 kg and while nearly 8.5 kg (about 60%) was fat loss, the 5 kg lean mass loss reported was 38%, which is on the high end of what we’d expect,” he told Healthline. “That said, DEXA is certainly imperfect in splicing the details of this body composition change as adipose tissue includes plenty of ‘lean mass.’ Additionally, the placebo group lost more lean mass (-1.83kg) than fat mass (1.37kg), which shows potential error.”

Nadolsky pointed out that rapid weight loss, in general, will reduce resting metabolic rate to some degree.

For instance, a meta-analysisTrusted Source showed that people who underwent bariatric surgery demonstrated over 8kg of fat-free mass and lean body mass loss within one-year post-bariatric surgery, which reflected 21% and 22% of total body weight loss, respectively.

“Any time people lose weight, one-quarter to one-third of that weight can be muscle, and the faster we lose, the more likely we are to lose muscle. While 20% reduction in muscle mass seems normal for someone losing weight, the problem is the length of time in which this muscle loss occurs,” said Kumar.

Because the weight loss process on GLP-1s is so fast, she said people need to be extra vigilant in their nutritional intake, specifically increasing their intake of protein, to avoid sarcopenic obesity.

“Additionally, while a benefit of GLP-1s has generally shown positive cardiovascular outcomes data (less heart attacks, less strokes, less cardiovascular death), I predict that this benefit won’t be there if patients have sarcopenic obesity,” said Kumar.

How lifestyle changes can help prevent muscle mass and bone density loss while taking GLP-1s

The following lifestyle changes can help prevent a decrease in muscle mass and bone density while losing weight fast for those who take GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy.

Increase protein intake

A systematic review and meta-analysisTrusted Source found that dietary trials with higher protein result in less lean mass loss and more fat mass loss compared to lower protein intake.

“Nutrition should also optimize protein in a personalized way,” said Nadolsky.

To maximize muscle preservation during active weight loss, Kumar said to focus on consuming 25-30 grams of protein per meal.

“Additionally, eating protein reduces hunger, so fill up on it along first with non-starchy vegetables and then move onto carbs if you’re still hungry, in order to ensure you are consuming enough protein at each meal,” Kumar said.

She recommends low/nonfat Greek yogurt and cottage cheese in place of sour cream, and meal prepping lean protein, such as air-fried chicken breast, so that it’s easily accessible. Additionally, adding beans to salads, choosing quinoa over rice or pasta, and supplementing with protein powders and drinks are good ways to get more protein.