Do Weight Loss Injections Cause Muscle Loss?

woman's muscular body working out

14 Jan Do Weight Loss Injections Cause Muscle Loss?

Posted at 11:29h in Weight Loss by

Weight loss injections like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have gained popularity for their effectiveness in helping people lose weight. They are now more widely available than ever, with UK pharmacies now providing access without a need for a doctor’s referral. However, concerns have arisen about potential muscle loss associated with these drugs. Here’s what you need to know about the link between muscle loss and weight loss drugs. 

If you’d like to find out how we can help you overcome your weight challenges naturally, achieve your desired weight and maintain it long term, we invite you to book a complimentary call with a member of our team to learn more.

DO WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS RESULT IN MUSCLE LOSS?

Yes, research indicates that rapid weight loss from GLP-1 medications can indeed lead to a significant decrease in muscle mass.

When individuals lose weight using weight loss injections, a significant portion of that loss can come from muscle tissue. In fact, studies have shown that 25-33% of weight lost during rapid weight loss may be muscle. This is particularly concerning because preserving muscle mass muscle is not only vital for health, it’s key for long term weight maintenance.

WHY IS MUSCLE MASS IMPORTANT?

Maintaining adequate muscle mass is crucial for overall health and longevity. Higher muscle mass is associated with a reduced risk of death from various causes and muscle tissue helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, muscle mass is closely linked to bone density, which is essential for preventing fractures and maintaining mobility as we age.

Adequate muscle mass helps maintain healthy levels of amino acids in the blood, supporting vital organs like the brain, heart, and liver. Strong muscles are necessary for safe, agile movement and can help prevent conditions like osteoarthritis. 

MUSCLE MASS AND WEIGHT LOSS

As well as overall health, muscle mass plays a crucial role in weight loss and overall metabolic health. As the most metabolically active tissue, muscle burns more calories at rest compared to fat. During weight loss, preserving muscle mass is essential for maintaining a higher metabolic rate and ensuring long-term weight maintenance. Weight loss using GLP1 injections can lead to muscle loss along with fat, potentially slowing metabolism and making further weight loss more challenging.

CAN YOU AVOID MUSCLE LOSS ON SEMAGLUTIDE?

While muscle loss is a potential side effect of weight loss medications, there are things you can do to prevent it. 

EAT MORE PROTEIN

A primary consideration for those taking GLP-1 medications like Ozempic is ensuring optimal an intake of protein. Getting enough protein in the diet is key for muscle growth and repair. We recommend aiming for 1.5g/kg of body weight, per day to help preserve muscle mass during weight loss. If you are taking a medication like Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro and you struggle to eat enough protein due to lack of hunger, consider topping up your intake with a high quality protein shake.

STRENGTH TRAINING 

Regular resistance exercises, when combined with an optimal protein intake, can stimulate muscle growth and can counteract muscle loss. Cardio exercises can also help to maintain muscle mass when combined with strength training. If you are taking weight loss medications, be sure to speak to your doctor to ensure your exercise regime is appropriate for you.

GET ONE TO ONE SUPPORT

Working closely with a qualified nutritionist to monitor your progress and adjust your approach as needed can help to mitigate the negative impacts of weight loss treatments. As a team of nutritionists who specialise in weight loss, some of our clients come to us on weight loss injections, looking for support with their diet and lifestyle to ensure lasting results. Contact us to find out how we can work together to help you achieve your ideal weight, while maintaining muscle mass.

WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY?

The SLIM LIVER study on semaglutide in people with HIV found a 9.3% decrease in psoas muscle volume over 24 weeks. However, physical function was maintained despite the muscle loss. One Wegovy clinical trial showed that almost 40% of the weight lost by participants came from lean mass, including muscle.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS?

In addition to potential muscle loss, weight loss injections can cause other side effects including gastrointestinal issues, reduced energy levels, potential bone density concerns and stomach paralysis amongst many. You can read more about the potential side effects of weight loss drugs in our guide, here. 

WORK WITH US 

Weight loss drugs are growing in popularity and being more widely used both inside and outside of medical settings. However, they do not come without risks and side effects, and even if they’re right for you, long-term success is not guaranteed without accompanying diet and lifestyle changes. Whether or not you see weight loss injections as a part of your weight loss journey, we’re here to help.

We are a team of qualified, experienced weight loss nutritionists, who can help you make meaningful changes to your lifestyle and diet to ensure that you not only reach your desired weight, but maintain it long term. 

We can help you overcome your weight challenges, reach your happy weight and maintain it long term. Book yourself in for a complimentary 25 mintue call or contact us and a member of our team will be in touch soon. We can talk through your challenges and explore whether one of our Intelligent Weight Loss programmes is right for you.

Sign up for Kim’s weekly weight loss and wellness newsletter to receive the latest news, expert tips and advice direct to your inbox.

Print page
0 Likes


LINDA ROBINSON

Linda is our Practice Coordinator, helping to keep the clinic running smoothly.

 

Originally from Texas, Linda completed her MBA at SDA Bocconi in Milan. Linda has worked as a Strategy Consultant across multiple industries globally in cities including Kyoto, Paris, Chicago and San Francisco. She developed an interest in nutrition whilst volunteering for an organisation that provides cooking and nutrition education to children and families.

Linda is now settled in London with her husband, two children, and her very bouncy, sociable dog.

SARAH LAW

Sarah has worked with hundreds of clients over the past decade to help them live in a healthy body that they feel confident in.


Sarah spent a large part of her teens and 20’s as a professional dancer battling with orthorexia and an unhealthy relationship with food and her body. This created a desire to understand the human body more so she could finally cut through the confusion and end the cycle of yoyo dieting. This fuelled her passion to help other women do the same.

 

Sarah specialises in supporting women who are struggling to lose weight due to underlying health issues. She’s helped many women manage their weight during and after the menopause, as well as clients with thyroid disease and immune system dysfunction. Sarah loves food and sharing healthy recipes with her clients. Her aim is to ensure that clients don’t feel deprived and instead, achieve their weight loss and health goals in a positive and sustainable way.

 

To enquire about working with Sarah, please contact us.

AILSA HICHENS

 

Ailsa is one of our most experienced practitioners. She specialises in helping clients to lose weight, develop a healthy relationship with food and finally feel comfortable in their skin. Ailsa’s mission is for everyone she works with to enjoy the journey and that working with a nutritionist should not be a punishment, but your access to a new possibility.

 

Ailsa is not only an experienced weight loss nutritionist, she is also a skilled coach. She helps our clients overcome emotional eating, destructive habits and self-sabotaging behaviours that have prevented successful weight loss in the past. Ailsa has spent years in clinic working with clients who have experienced yo-yo dieting and have discovered that long term weight loss is not just about eating less until you can stand it no longer.

 

Working with Ailsa you will be comprehensively supported, not only in improving your nutrition and lifestyle, but also your eating habits and your relationship with food. When you work on all these elements together, the results can be truly astonishing.

 

To enquire about working with Ailsa, please contact us.

Test Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team of practitioners and heading up the day-to-day running of the business. Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, coming from a strong business background in town planning. A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 with her husband and two children.

NIKKI ANDRIANI

Nikki is our Practice Manager, managing our team and heading up the day-to-day running of our clinic.

 

Coming from a background in town planning, Nikki is involved in the strategic development of our practice, continually ensuring we are delivering the very best service to our clients.


A Florida girl, Nikki relocated to the UK in 2014 where she lives with her husband, two children, and her rescue dog Skyy.

STÉPHANIE ACHAR

Stéphanie is a skilled nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner with additional training in eating disorders, disordered eating and obesity. She believes that working towards both physiological and mental health is key in achieving optimum wellbeing.

 

Stéphanie’s personal experience of emotional eating and the ongoing struggle to find the right support led her to combine the science of nutrition with behavioural coaching to motivate and empower her clients. She specialises in helping people who struggle with their weight and their relationship with food. She helps them develop a healthier and more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

 

To enquire about working with Stéphanie, please contact us.

INNA WEARN

Inna is passionate about supporting women on their journey to improved health and wellbeing. She believes that the solution to effective weight loss does not lie in ever more restrictive diets, but a more sophisticated approach that optimises health and vitality, as well as promoting effective weight loss.

 

Working with Inna you will benefit from her in-depth knowledge of female health and hormones. She will support you in developing a healthy diet, lifestyle and mindset that ensures you reach your ideal weight and maintain it in the years to come.

 

Inna is passionate about food with a wide repertoire of delicious healthy recipes and meal ideas to ensure your weight loss journey is as enjoyable as possible!

 

To enquire about working with Inna, please contact us.

ANIA MASON

 

Ania is a firm believer that improving your health and losing weight should be a positive, empowering journey, not one centred around deprivation.

 

After being diagnosed with two autoimmune conditions in her twenties, Ania spent several years educating herself on the power of food and nutrition. She put it all into practise and changed her diet and lifestyle, reversing her endometriosis and thyroid disease. After experiencing such a significant improvement in her health, Ania had a big desire to help others. She embarked on a four year journey to study nutrition, graduating from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition with distinction.

 

Ania specialises in autoimmunity and works with clients who have underlying health issues preventing successful weight loss. Her expertise enables her to successfully support our clients with conditions such as hypothyroidsm (underactive thyroid), PCOS and diabetes. 

 

To enquire about working with Ania, please contact us.

Get weekly weight loss & wellness updates.

Subscribe and receive your free download:

 

7 STEPS TO INTELLIGENT WEIGHT LOSS