Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jun 16
Experts Urge GLP-1 Users to Add 5-Day Strength Training, More Protein
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jun 16

Experts Urge GLP-1 Users to Add 5-Day Strength Training, More Protein

3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jun 16

Summary

  • Muscle loss can accompany GLP-1-driven weight loss, prompting doctors to push strength training and higher protein intake alongside the drugs rather than focusing only on pounds lost.
  • Dr. Chuck Svendsen of Astride Health said patients should “move that muscle mass” and protect bone and lean tissue, because healthier weight loss means fat loss, not simply a lower number on the scale.
  • Jenn Glass, 53, has lost more than 30 pounds since starting a GLP-1 last November and now uses DEXA scans, baseline testing and workouts five days a week to track whether the loss is happening safely.
  • For women, Svendsen said pairing GLP-1s with hormone replacement therapy may further preserve muscle, boost fat burning and improve energy, pointing to a broader shift toward body-composition-focused obesity care.

Insights

As GLP-1 drugs melt away fat, are they also destroying the muscle essential for healthy aging?
Is combining hormone therapy with GLP-1s the key to reversing menopausal weight gain and inflammation?
With millions gaining access via Medicare, how can patients avoid dangerous counterfeit weight-loss drugs?