For a very long time, weight-reduction plan and train had been the one life like choices for many individuals who needed to drop some weight, however latest pharmaceutical advances have led to the event of weight reduction medication. These are primarily based on pure hormones from the gut that assist management meals consumption, equivalent to GLP and GIP.
GLP-1-based medication equivalent 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 medication are very efficient in serving to folks drop some weight. In scientific trials of individuals with weight problems, these medication result in a weight lack of as much as 20% physique weight in some cases.
But it surely’s necessary to notice that not all the burden misplaced is fats. Analysis exhibits that as much as one-third of this weight reduction is so-called “non-fat mass” – this contains muscle and bone mass. This additionally occurs when somebody goes on a weight loss plan, and after weight reduction surgical procedure.
Muscle and bone play essential roles in our well being. Muscle is absolutely necessary for quite a few causes together with that it helps us management our blood sugar. Blood sugar management is not pretty much as good in individuals who have decrease ranges of muscle mass.
Excessive blood sugar ranges are additionally linked to well being circumstances equivalent to kind 2 diabetes – the place having excessive blood sugar ranges can result in blindness, nerve injury, foot ulcers and infections, and circulation issues equivalent to coronary heart assaults and strokes.
We’d like our bones to be sturdy in order that we will perform our on a regular basis actions. Shedding bone mass can improve our threat of fractures.
Researchers aren’t fully 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because of the weight that has been misplaced, this may have an effect on regular bone turnover – the method the place outdated bone is eliminated and new bone is fashioned resulting in much less bone mass being manufactured than earlier than weight reduction.
As a result of GLP-1 medication are so new, we do not but know the longer-term results of weight reduction achieved through the use of them. So, we won’t be fully certain how a lot non-fat mass somebody will lose whereas utilizing these medication or why it occurs.
It is exhausting to say whether or not the lack of non-fat mass may trigger issues in the long term or if this is able to outweigh the various advantages which might be related to these medication.
Sustaining muscle and bone
There are a lot of issues you are able to do whereas taking GLP-1 medication 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 lowering the quantity of non-fat mass that’s misplaced when shedding weight.
Top-of-the-line sorts of train is doing resistance coaching or weight coaching. It will assist to protect muscle mass, and protein will assist us keep and construct muscle.
If you happen to discover it troublesome 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 automotive in fewer journeys and strolling at a barely faster tempo are all actually nice methods of incorporating exercise into your day.
GLP-1 medication equivalent to Wegovy and Mounjaro are thrilling new instruments for weight reduction. However proof means that to get the perfect long-term consequence from these medication, it is necessary to mix them with wholesome modifications to weight loss plan and bodily exercise.
Jennifer James, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Institute of Inhabitants Well being, College of Liverpool
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