Good Lifestyle

One of the new most popular drug classes in America - GLP -1 drugs such as Ozempic , Wegovy and Zepbound - helped a report 12% Americans lose weight or manage their type 2. diabetes. However, the advantages of these drugs that change the situation do not stop there.

In addition to helping fat loss and stabilizing blood sugar, they can also improve the health of the heart, kidneys, liver and brain, improve sleep and reduce inflammation and chronic joint pain. Together, these advantages can extend to a longer lifespan.

However, GLP-1 also includes certain risks. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal: some patients report nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation. According to Harvard Health Publishing , there are also a handful of "less common but more serious side effects" associated with the use of GLP-1 agonists. These include pancreatitis, gastreresis , Intestinal obstruction and biliary stones problems.

Add to this list, a new study It is now warned of two additional "serious concerns" that doctors have concerning the effects of these drugs - and both could increase their risk of mortality.

In relation: Doctors warn that drugs like Ozempic make you "lean fat".

Researchers are concerned about lean muscle loss.

Whenever a person suddenly loses weight, he may also lose lean muscle mass. Not only can this affect strength, mobility and balance, but it can also affect the immune system, metabolism, etc.

Since GLP-1 drugs can trigger rapid weight loss, many people who take them report muscle loss and reduced muscle function. In fact, between 40 and 50 percent of total weight loss associated with GLP-1 drugs can be the result of muscle loss.

"Some patients literally told me that they thought they lost muscle or that the muscles were moving away from their Zhenqi Liu , MD, professor of medicine and professor of diabetes of James Mr. Moss at the Division of Medicine at the University of Virginia and the former chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism of UVA Health, said via the study of the study press release .

“It is a serious concern. The muscle, in particular the axial muscle, is essential for posture, physical function and general well-being, "continued Liu. "Loss of lean body mass can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality of all causes of causes and a decrease in quality of life. We must make sure that patients prescribed these drugs are not already at risk of malnutrition or low muscle mass."

In relation: The pharmacist says that this side effect means that the most people leave Ozempic and Mounjaro .

They also warn that the cardiorepiratory form may not improve.

While studying the long-term effects of GLP-1 drugs, the team reported another concern, this time concerning the effects of drugs on cardiorepiratory form (CRF or VO2max). They explain that if a person taking drugs GLP-1 will almost certainly see his weight decrease, he will not necessarily know improved markers of this particular health metric.

"Cardiorepiratory physical condition is a powerful predictor of the risk of mortality all causes and cardiovascular in a range of populations, including obesity, diabetes and heart failure," said Siddhartha S. Angadi , PHD, a physiologist of the cardiovascular exercise of the UVA Kinesiology Department.

"In a recent study of our group which examined the results of the mortality of nearly 400,000 people around the world, we found that the CRF was far superior to the status of overweight or obesity to predict the risk of death. In fact, once the CRF has been taken into account, body weight could not predict the risk of mortality. This is why it is so important to understand the effects of this new class of drugs, "he added.

How their concerns are interconnected:

Measuring the cardiorepiratory form of a person reveals how the body can use oxygen during exercise, offering clues to the functionality of the heart, lungs, muscles and blood vessels. It is a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality and all causes.

People living with obesity often have low levels of cardiorepiratory shape, due to high levels of fat and reduced muscle mass, a condition known as sarcopenic obesity. Although researchers note that GLP-1 drugs improve several measures of heart function, CRF has not improved, as muscle loss has further decreased in many patients.

In relation: Ozempic and Wegovy may have landed 25,000 people in the emergency room - here is the frightening reason .

Here is what to do if you take GLP-1.

To prevent muscle loss and its effects, experts say it is important to incorporate strength strengthening exercises into your GLP-1 plan. Whether you opt for dumbbells, kettlebells, gym machines or resistance bands, you should aim to target all your different muscle groups at least twice a week.

"This is an active research field, and we hope that better solutions are coming soon," said Liu. "But for the moment, it is important that patients prescribe GLP-1 drugs have conversations with their health care providers on strategies to preserve muscle mass."

"The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for malnutrition and the low risk of muscle mass before starting these drugs and promoting an adequate protein intake and a regular exercise throughout the treatment," he concluded.