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GLP-1 and muscle loss: keep your protein and strength

GLP-1 and muscle loss: keep your protein and strength

GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide and tirzepatide help you eat less and lose weight, but some of that lost weight is muscle, not only fat. Studies show roughly a quarter of the weight lost can be lean mass, and the share can be even higher in some trials. Muscle runs your metabolism, your strength, and your daily function, so losing it is not great, especially as you age. The good news: eating enough protein at each meal plus simple resistance work 2-3 times a week protects your muscle while the medicine does its job. This article explains why it happens and what to do. Always talk to your doctor or dietitian for your own protein number.

13 Jul 2026 · Burnie Academy
glp1 protein muscle resistance-training

You started a GLP-1 medicine and the weight is coming down. That feels good. But here is a question most people forget to ask: what exactly is leaving your body? When you lose weight fast, some of it is fat, and some of it is muscle. GLP-1 medicines make eating less feel easy, which is why they work so well. But that same 'eat less' effect can quietly cut your protein and your strength work, so your body lets go of muscle too. This article is about how to keep your muscle while you lose the fat. It is general guidance, not a prescription. Your doctor and your dietitian know your numbers. The idea is simple: be intentional about protein and resistance while the medicine does its job.

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