Do GLP-1 medications cause muscle loss?
Some of the weight lost on any weight-loss approach is lean tissue. In the semaglutide and tirzepatide trials, roughly a quarter to a third of the weight lost was lean tissue.
• Weight that won't move / GLP-1 medication
Losing muscle on a weight-loss medication
The scale is moving and you feel weaker. That is a real thing, and it is measurable.
In the semaglutide and tirzepatide trials, roughly a quarter to a third of the weight lost was lean tissue. The scale can't show you which kind of weight you are losing.
What this can be
Why it matters.
Lean tissue does more than fill out your clothes.
Metabolic rate
Muscle burns energy at rest. Less of it means a lower metabolic rate.
Strength
Losing muscle can make stairs, lifting and daily tasks harder.
Balance and falls
Especially as we get older, muscle protects against falls.
After the medication stops
With less muscle and a lower metabolic rate, regained weight tends to come back as fat.
Low protein intake
Smaller appetites often mean too little protein to protect muscle.
No resistance training
Muscle needs a reason to stay.
What we measure
The specific tests we run.
We measure what is changing, not just how much.
InBody 970 body composition, every visit
Fat mass and skeletal muscle mass tracked separately, rather than total weight.
Hemoglobin A1c
Your three-month average blood sugar.
Fasting insulin
Shows insulin resistance a normal glucose can miss.
Lipid panel
Cholesterol and triglycerides.
Thyroid panel
TSH, free T4 and free T3.
Metabolic panel
Kidney function, electrolytes and fasting glucose.
What happens next
Options, depending on what we find.
At each visit we look at the scan with you and discuss protein targets, resistance training, and whether your medication dose should change. This is what we monitor and adjust; it isn't a guaranteed outcome.
What it costs
Published pricing.
Initial evaluation
$250
Self-pay
Follow-up visit
$150
Self-pay
We accept PPO plans from Aetna, AmeriHealth, Horizon and UnitedHealthcare, plus Medicare. HMO plans are not accepted. Lab and treatment costs depend on what is ordered.
See full pricing →Frequently asked
Common questions.
Why does losing muscle matter?
Muscle supports your metabolic rate, strength and balance. Losing it can make you feel weaker and can make weight easier to regain if the medication stops.
How do you measure it?
With an InBody 970 body composition scan at every visit, which tracks fat mass and skeletal muscle mass separately instead of total weight.
Can I keep my current prescription and still be seen?
Yes. You can come in for monitoring and body composition tracking even if another clinician prescribes your medication.
What do you adjust?
We discuss protein targets, resistance training and the dose of your medication at each visit, based on what the scan shows. We monitor; we don't promise a specific result.
What happens when I stop the medication?
Weight regain is common after stopping. Keeping muscle during treatment and having a plan for stopping are both things we discuss in advance.
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