The report, GLP-1 medications and muscle mass preservation: Implications and recommendations for the health and fitness sector, reviews global academic evidence on how the drugs work, their side effects and how exercise can help preserve lean body mass. It is among the first reviews to focus specifically on the role of physical activity in mitigating muscle loss.

The findings show that reductions in lean muscle mass are a common unintended consequence of GLP-1 use, driven by large calorie deficits that cause the body to break down skeletal muscle for energy. One study cited in the review found that users lost between 6.0kg and 6.9kg of lean muscle over 68–78 weeks – an amount comparable to “a decade or more of human ageing”.

Researchers say this is particularly concerning for older adults, as muscle loss increases the risk of frailty and falls, which already cost the NHS an estimated £2.3bn each year.

The report highlights evidence that combining weight loss medications with regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce muscle and bone loss, support long-term weight management and help maintain results once medication is stopped. Strength training two to three times a week, alongside at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, is strongly recommended.

With uptake of GLP-1 medications rising rapidly in the UK, the authors are calling on government to bring together the health, fitness, nutrition and pharmaceutical sectors to provide proper “wraparound” care, rather than relying on medication alone.

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