39% of Weight Loss with GLP-1 is Muscle

A recent review published this week in the journal Diabetes and Endocrinology revealed that up to 39% of the weight that is lost when using a GLP-1 medication is muscle. 

Why is this important? 

Muscle influences our resting metabolic rate (the number of calories we burn while we aren’t working out) and thus our ability to maintain fat loss.  With less muscle, we burn less calories.  Beyond strength, muscle helps us control blood sugar, supports immune health, and is positively correlated with longevity.

Take home message:  For GLP-1 patients, combat this muscle loss by engaging in intense strength training a couple times per week.