Weight loss drugs: Why experts worry about muscle loss instead of just fat | Health News

DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on data from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. All the time seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.

On the identical time, components like weight loss plan, protein consumption, and resistance coaching could affect how the physique responds to those medicines. Understanding whether or not these medicine disproportionately affect muscle in comparison with fats, and what which means for long-term well being, is vital earlier than contemplating or persevering with such therapies.

When individuals drop some pounds utilizing weight reduction medicine, how a lot of it sometimes comes from fats loss versus muscle loss?

Dr (Prof) Raju Vaishya, senior advisor orthopaedic and joint alternative surgeon at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi, tells indianexpress.com, “With fashionable weight-loss medicine—particularly Semaglutide and Tirzepatide—most weight reduction comes from fats, however a significant share is lean mass (muscle + water + organ tissue). Medical research recommend roughly 65–85% fats loss and 15–35% lean mass loss, although particular person variation is broad.”

He notes that the stability is determined by a number of components:

• baseline physique composition (these with greater fats mass are inclined to lose a higher proportion of fats)
• velocity and magnitude of weight reduction (sooner loss will increase lean tissue loss)
• protein consumption, and bodily exercise—particularly resistance coaching.

Find out how weight reduction medicine have an effect on your muscle mass (Supply: Freepik)

“Age and hormonal standing additionally matter, with older adults extra susceptible to muscle loss. Urge for food suppression from these medicine can cut back general calorie and protein consumption, unintentionally growing lean mass loss if not managed. Importantly, ‘lean mass’ loss just isn’t purely muscle—some is water and glycogen—so true contractile muscle loss could also be considerably decrease than reported figures,” states Dr Vaishya.

Dr Palleti Siva Karthik Reddy, MBBS, MD common drugs, FAIG, advisor doctor at Elite Care Clinic, provides, “This stability is essentially decided by protein consumption, degree of bodily exercise, particularly resistance coaching, baseline muscle mass, and the general calorie deficit created. People who don’t actively assist muscle preservation by weight loss plan and train are inclined to lose a better proportion of lean mass.”

Do weight reduction medicine speed up muscle loss vs weight loss plan/train?

“Weight-loss medicine don’t inherently trigger extra muscle loss than conventional calorie restriction—the important thing driver is the calorie deficit itself,” says Dr Vaishya, including that when individuals drop some pounds by weight loss plan alone, lean mass loss sometimes falls in an analogous vary (about 20–30%). “With medicines like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, the proportion of lean mass loss can seem greater in some research, however this is actually because complete weight reduction is bigger and sooner, not as a result of the medicine instantly break down muscle. In actual fact, when mixed with structured train and sufficient protein, muscle preservation can match—and even outperform—diet-only approaches,” suggests the professional.

In comparison with structured weight reduction by weight loss plan and train, Dr Reddy stresses, the place protein consumption and resistance coaching are sometimes emphasised, medication-driven weight reduction can generally be much less managed. “This may end up in a barely greater proportion of lean mass loss if not managed rigorously, notably in people who will not be bodily lively.”

Dr Vaishya states, “The priority arises when sufferers rely solely on remedy with out way of life measures, resulting in lowered protein consumption and minimal resistance coaching. So, medicine are finest seen as amplifiers of weight reduction, not selective drivers of muscle loss. The end result relies upon largely on how they’re used, relatively than the pharmacology alone.”

Easy methods to minimise muscle loss throughout weight-loss remedy

In line with Dr Vaishya, preserving muscle whereas shedding weight on medicines like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide requires a deliberate technique.
-Prioritise protein consumption — usually ~1.2-1.6 g/kg/day, adjusted for age and renal perform—to assist muscle protein synthesis.
-Incorporate resistance coaching (2-4 classes/week), which is the best strategy to sign the physique to retain muscle throughout a calorie deficit. Even easy progressive power workouts could make a major distinction.
-Keep away from overly speedy weight reduction; a gradual tempo helps protect lean tissue.
-Preserve sufficient micronutrients (vitamin D, calcium) and hydration.

“Medical supervision is essential—common monitoring of physique composition (not simply weight) can information changes. In some circumstances, clinicians could contemplate adjuncts like protein supplementation or tailor-made train prescriptions. Finally, combining pharmacotherapy with structured diet and power coaching transforms weight reduction from merely lighter weight to more healthy physique composition,” concludes Dr Vaishya.

DISCLAIMER: This text is predicated on data from the general public area and/or the specialists we spoke to. All the time seek the advice of your well being practitioner earlier than beginning any routine.