For a very long time, weight-reduction plan and train had been the one practical choices for many individuals who wished to drop a few pounds, however latest pharmaceutical advances have led to the event of weight reduction medicine. These are primarily based on pure hormones from the gut that assist management meals consumption, akin to GLP and GIP.
GLP-1-based medicine akin to semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) work by serving to folks to really feel much less hungry. This ends in them consuming much less – resulting in weight reduction.
Research present that these medicine are very efficient in serving to folks drop a few pounds. In medical trials of individuals with weight problems, these medicine result in a weight lack of as much as 20% physique weight in some cases.
Nevertheless it’s necessary to notice that not all the load misplaced is fats. Analysis exhibits that as much as one-third of this weight reduction is so-called “non-fat mass” – this consists of muscle and bone mass. This additionally occurs when somebody goes on a weight-reduction plan, and after weight reduction surgical procedure.
Muscle and bone play essential roles in our well being. Muscle is absolutely necessary for various causes together with that it helps us management our blood sugar. Blood sugar management is not nearly as good in individuals who have decrease ranges of muscle mass.
Excessive blood sugar ranges are additionally linked to well being situations akin to sort 2 diabetes – the place having excessive blood sugar ranges can result in blindness, nerve harm, foot ulcers and infections, and circulation issues akin to coronary heart assaults and strokes.
We’d like our bones to be sturdy in order that we are able to perform our on a regular basis actions. Shedding bone mass can improve our threat of fractures.
Researchers aren’t utterly certain why folks lose fat-free mass throughout weight reduction – although there are a few theories.
It is thought that in weight reduction, muscle proteins are damaged down sooner than they are often constructed. And, as a result of there’s much less stress on the bones because of the weight that has been misplaced, this would possibly have an effect on regular bone turnover – the method the place outdated bone is eliminated and new bone is shaped resulting in much less bone mass being manufactured than earlier than weight reduction.
As a result of GLP-1 medicine are so new, we do not but know the longer-term results of weight reduction achieved by utilizing them. So, we won’t be utterly certain how a lot non-fat mass somebody will lose whereas utilizing these medicine or why it occurs.
It is exhausting to say whether or not the lack of non-fat mass might trigger issues in the long term or if this might outweigh the various advantages which can be related to these medicine.
Sustaining muscle and bone
There are various issues you are able to do whereas taking GLP-1 medicine for weight reduction to keep up your muscle and bone mass.
Analysis tells us that consuming sufficient protein and staying bodily lively might be useful in decreasing the quantity of non-fat mass that’s misplaced when reducing weight.
The most effective sorts of train is doing resistance coaching or weight coaching. This can assist to protect muscle mass, and protein will assist us keep and construct muscle.
If you happen to discover it tough to search out the time to squeeze in a exercise, there are many easy issues you are able to do throughout your day to assist keep your muscle mass throughout weight reduction.
Utilizing the steps quite than taking the raise, carrying the procuring in from the automobile in fewer journeys and strolling at a barely faster tempo are all actually nice methods of incorporating exercise into your day.
GLP-1 medicine akin to Wegovy and Mounjaro are thrilling new instruments for weight reduction. However proof means that to get the most effective long-term outcome from these medicine, it is necessary to mix them with wholesome modifications to weight-reduction plan and bodily exercise.
Jennifer James, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Institute of Inhabitants Well being, College of Liverpool
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