New research finds GLP-1 users significantly reduced physical activity, with daily steps and exercise declining after starting a weight loss medication.
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Scientists point to the gutClinical trial targets aging reversal for vision lossKat Timpf: Planter’s scandals are ‘uniquely bizarre’Obesity medicine specialist Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, M.D., author of the new book "Weightless," shared that the best way to determine the suitability of a GLP-1 is through body composition testing. The study, set to be presented at ENDO 2026 in Chicago this week, found thatIn an Endocrine Society press release, study lead Sajana Maharjan, MD, of HSHS St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, noted that GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide, liraglutide, dulaglutide and tirzepatide reduce both fat and lean muscle mass.
The study, reportedly the first of its kind, considered data from a National Institutes of Health research program that linked participant records with fitness tracker activity. Researchers analyzed data from 753 people with obesity who initiated a GLP-1 medication. The cohort was mostly female, at a mean age of 52.7 years. Comparing activity in participants before and after beginning treatment, the average number of steps decreased from 5,047 to 4,487 per day.
Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity fell from 28 to 22 minutes per day, the study found. The largest declines were observed in men and in those with joint or muscle pain. Other factors like age, heart failure or"The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications," he said.
"People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity. "The study was retrospective and observational, meaning it could only display an association, not a direct cause. The participants were also mostlyOther factors that were not measured include exercise habits before starting treatment, motivation levels and guidance from a physician.
Although many people might assume that losing weight with these medications would lead to increased physical activity, the study found no evidence that it did, according to the researcher. Dr. Peter Balazs MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist practicing in New York and New Jersey, echoed in an interview with Fox News Digital that weight loss does not automatically lead to increased mobility or greater motivation to exercise.and regular daily movement, like walking, into their routine to"preserve lean muscle mass, maintain metabolic health and support long-term weight management," he advised.
The expert noted that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, as the timing, intensity and type of workout should be individualized based on a person’s fitness level, health status and body composition.
"This is particularly important for patients with a high BMI who may have mobility limitations or lower baseline fitness levels," Balazs said. "It's important to consider injury risk, long-term adherence and the potential for early burnout.
"Board-certified internist and longevity expert Dr. Amanda Kahn said she disagrees with this study’s conclusions, as they do not reflect what she is seeing in her own "Weight loss often serves as the impetus that motivates patients to become more physically active and more engaged in their overall health," the New York-based expert told Fox News Digital. Successful treatment requires regular follow-up, monitoring of protein intake, monthly weight checks, quarterly body composition scans and routine laboratory testing, an expert advised.
"The success of GLP-1 therapy is directly tied to the expertise of the provider," she went on. "When these medications are prescribed thoughtfully – with attention to nutrition, resistance training, body composition and laboratory monitoring – they can help patients lose weight while becoming healthier, stronger and more motivated to exercise.
"or shows concerning muscle loss on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication – because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss," she said. If a GLP-1 patient becomes too fatigued to exercise, develops nutritional deficiencies or loses excessive muscle mass, Kahn warned that this reflects a"monitoring problem" rather than a medication problem, as these medications"require close clinical oversight. "
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