New Study Reveals Surprising Trend in GLP-1 Medication Users

Researchers at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, presented a study that found people taking popular medications for weight loss, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, became significantly less physically active after losing weight.

The study analyzed data from the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program, which combines electronic health records with Fitbit activity data. The researchers looked at 1,950 adults with obesity who started a GLP-1 medication, and of those, 753 participants had enough wearable-device data to be included in the final analysis.

The study found that average daily step counts fell from 5,047 to 4,487 steps per day, and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) dropped from 28 minutes to 22 minutes per day. The largest decreases were seen in men and in people who reported joint or muscle pain.

The researchers also found that losing weight with these medications did not lead people to become more physically active. This is a surprising trend, as many people assume that shedding excess weight naturally makes it easier to move more.

Study leader Sajana Maharjan, M.D., of HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, explained that the loss of lean muscle mass contributed to the decline in physical activity. ‘Protecting muscle is a key part of healthy weight loss,’ she said.

The researchers emphasized the importance of physical activity for maintaining strength and overall health, especially for people taking GLP-1 medications. They suggested that targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity are necessary.

This study is the first large study to use wearable fitness tracker data to examine physical activity patterns among adults taking GLP-1 receptor agonists. The findings have significant implications for the treatment of obesity and the importance of physical activity in maintaining overall health.

The researchers concluded that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications, and that targeted interventions that encourage physical activity are necessary to maintain overall health and strength.