17/07/2026
I would like to share what I learned from a recent study published in the JOURNAL OF NUTRITION about these very popular weight loss drugs.
(oral or injectable —semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide)
If you are on one right now, or planning to do it, please read this first so as not to waste your money when using these meds. I have encountered several patients who have done this and most of them were disappointed because - aside from the side effects they experienced, they also gained back the weight they lost. Some have even gained more than what they have lost…
(DISCLAIMER: I’m not the one who prescribed the meds to them as it’s not within my scope of service)
This recent study explains why that happened to them, and it also tells us what’s the better approach when taking these meds…
Here’s a summary of the study…
The researchers divided the patients into 4 groups:
GLP 1 only
GLP 1 with nutrition counseling
Nutrition counseling only
Control group
They were followed for 1 year and these were the results:
Patients in the GLP-1 group achieved the greatest overall weight loss on average (16.83 lbs in 1 yr)
❌The GLP-1 group experienced the GREATEST mean MUSCLE MASS LOSS ☹️ (7.01 lbs) — (big reason for re-gaining weight after you stop the medication)
❌the relationship between GLP-1 usage and muscle mass loss was statistically significant (P = 0.013) 😞
✅The GLP-1 with NUTRITION COUNSELING group and the nutrition-only group experienced LESS MUSCLE MASS LOSS.
✅The GLP-1 with NUTRITION COUNSELING group showed the GREATEST LOSS in FAT MASS (−10.77 lbs), and the nutrition-only group showed the greatest mean LOSS in VISCERAL FAT (1.35 points).
Conclusions of the study:
GLP-1 medication was independently and significantly associated with muscle mass loss, and those who took GLP-1 medications without nutritional therapy had the greatest mean loss in muscle mass.
Compared with those who used GLP-1 medications alone, those who coupled nutritional therapy with GLP-1 medications experienced smaller reductions in muscle mass while also experiencing reductions in fat mass on average.
✅These findings highlight the importance of incorporating nutrition counseling and body composition monitoring into obesity treatment.
My takeaways:
1. With GLP 1 alone, you lose a lot of weight, but almost half of it is muscle mass. We don’t want to lose a lot of muscle mass to prevent the yo-yo effect of your weight loss journey.
1. GLP 1 with nutritional counseling/guidance is the best approach. You can lose a lot of FAT MASS, but less loss of muscle mass. Plus you also lose VISCERAL FAT (also known as the killer fat)
Please share this to family and friends 👍