Experts warn of a little-known side effect of the popular weight loss drug Wegovy – it can also melt away your hard-earned muscles.
Since last summer, demand for the once-a-week injection — which has been shown to shave up to 2 pounds a week — has been so high it’s created a nationwide shortage.
Rumor has it that celebrities from Kim Kardashian to Elon Musk have used drugs to lose weight. But for those seeking a toned physique, the drug may not be a panacea, experts warn.
Dr. Florence Comite, an endocrinologist in New York City who has given hundreds of patients weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, told DailyMail.com that people who use the drug will “definitely” lose muscle.
“You’re not eating enough, you’re not getting enough protein, you’re nauseous, so you eat comfort food like mashed potatoes or rice, but not enough protein,” she told DailyMail.com.
Pictured above is 41-year-old Florida resident Khalin Grant, who lost 75 pounds in seven months while receiving weekly Wegovy injections. She says she now fits smaller dress sizes than when she was in college
A British study found that people taking Wegovy lost weight quickly and lost 18% of their weight in 68 weeks. They regained two-thirds of that weight, or 12% of their original body weight, in the year after they stopped the weekly injections. Experts say that to get rid of the pounds, the drug must be used for life
DR Committee, who also founded the Committee Center for Precision Medicine and Health, revealed that her patients typically lose more muscle than fat.
She told DailyMail.com: “What we see here in the inner city is usually more muscle loss than fat loss.
“At least 50 percent of our patients experience muscle wasting.”
DR The committee said that the balance tends to be 60 percent muscle loss and 40 percent fat loss in patients in their 40s and 50s, regardless of whether they are obese or overweight.
She said this was because the patients ate too little protein, as the drugs made them nauseous and consequently more likely to eat comfort food.
Many patients also don’t do enough resistance exercise — such as lifting weights or using strength-training machines — which further leads to muscle wasting.
And older patients have lower levels of the hormone testosterone, which is linked to maintaining muscle mass in the body.
Above is packaging from Wegovy. Taken as weekly injections, it is in short supply in the US for its potential to aid in weight loss
Wegovy works by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, or glucagon-like peptide 1, which is linked to feeling full.
Protein is perhaps the most important macronutrient for building and maintaining muscle. It is also the hardest for the body to break down and the most satiating.
DR Committee, who also founded the Committee Center for Precision Medicine and Health, explained that when someone is already full, protein can seem like the least palatable option.
The problem of muscle loss is compounded because even though the person is full, the person’s body is physically hungry.
Are Fat Loss Drugs Wegovy Big Pharma’s Latest Scam?
However, many Americans may be surprised to learn that two-thirds of patients regain weight just a few months after stopping the medication, and most must take the injections forever to maintain their results.
When the body is low in calories, it breaks down its most energy-consuming tissue: muscle.
The problem of muscle wasting, according to dr. Comite is not exclusive to Wegovy, which says it also occurs with other weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic — the same drug as Wegovy, but at a lower dose. It should be reserved for diabetics.
As weight loss drugs grow in popularity across America, experts warn of other side effects.
The most common side effects listed for the drug are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and dizziness, says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There is no “muscle weakness” – loss of strength in the muscles.
DR The committee warned that the loss in muscle mass caused by the drug may prompt some users to take the drug longer to achieve their ideal “toned” physique.
DR The committee recommends following a resistance training schedule to prevent muscle wasting. Strength training stimulates muscle protein synthesis (MPS), or muscle repair, which helps them grow back bigger and stronger.
Muscle is essential to the body, especially as we age, as it helps protect against diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Older patients tended to lose more muscle than fat because they had lower levels of testosterone — a hormone that helps maintain muscle mass that declines with age — and were less likely to do resistance exercises like weight lifting, she said.
Dr. Robert Newton, a sports medicine expert in Australia, told the Sydney Morning Herald: “There are few studies on muscle loss with semaglutide [Wegovy] until now.
“But Japanese researchers reported that after three months of use, people lost half a kilo of muscle mass.
The expert from Perth-based Edith Cowan University added: “This is a common problem in fat loss interventions.”
The Japanese study, published in 2021, was a meta-analysis of 18 studies involving a total of 1,363 people with type 2 diabetes. They all received a weight loss drug such as Wegovy or a placebo.
The results showed a “significant decrease” in lean body mass in patients receiving the weight loss drugs compared to those receiving the placebo.
Dr. Newton added: “This makes it essential to also prescribe resistance training to prevent muscle wasting.
Pictured above is patient Ana McKenna before and after taking Wegovy. She said she lost one to two pounds a week while on the drug
Elon Musk and Chelsea Handler have reportedly used a semaglutide drug to lose weight
“But my concern is that semaglutide is seen by some as a panacea and is not always combined with exercise.”
Dr Priya Sumitran, an endocrinologist at the University of Melbourne, Australia, told the paper: “The media coverage of semaglutide makes it sound like a silver bullet.
“But any drug approved to control obesity is meant to be used in conjunction with diet and exercise, and prescribing doctors know that.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy for obese or overweight adults to help them lose weight.
But they say it should be administered along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise.
However, some doctors prescribe the drug off-label to patients who are considered healthy to help them shed the pounds.
Medical specialists say that if you have arm or leg weakness – a decrease in muscle strength – you should see a doctor immediately.
Wegovy’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, has been approached for comment.
Source link
Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
