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FILE: GLP-1 weight loss medications (Photo by: Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group
A new drug could help people taking GLP-1 obesity drugs avoid muscle loss that often accompanies rapid weight loss.
The drug, called apitegromab, was featured in a new study published in Nature Medical journal.
What is ‘Ozempic butt?’
“Ozempic butt” refers to the loss of muscle that people on weight loss injections can experience when they lose weight quickly without strength training and regular exercise. Some people on the drugs have reported flatter butts and loose skin as unwanted side effects.
By the numbers:
Some research suggests up to 30% of weight loss in GLP-1 patients is lean muscle, not fat, though newer studies say over time, the majority of weight loss in GLP-1 patients is fat, not muscle.
RELATED:Medicare rolls out $50 GLP-1 drug program: What to know
Why you should care:
Experts say it’s harder to regain muscle than it is to regain fat.
What is apitegromab?
Big picture view:
According to the study, apitegromab is a drug that “selectively inhibits” the activation of myostatin, a protein that helps to break down muscle.
RELATED:GLP-1 drugs tied to blood pressure risks in certain patients, study finds
In a trial of 102 adults, more than 80% of whom were women, those who were given apitegromab as a supplement to GLP-1 treatment saw “significantly reduced lean mass loss,” the study found. After six months, those taking apitegromab lost an average of 3.5 pounds of lean muscle mass, compared to 7.7 pounds for those taking the placebo.
According to BBC, apitegromab is only available for use in clinical trials. It’s administered as an infusion through a vein.
What’s next:
Doctors said the early results were promising, but cautioned that more studies are needed
Scholar Rock, the company tha tmakes it, hopes the drug can eventually be given as a self-injection pen like many GLP-1 drugs currently on the market.
How to prevent muscle loss while taking GLP-1 drugs
What you can do:
Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital say people on GLP-1 drugs should follow a high-protein diet and get regular exercise, including strength training, to prevent muscle loss.
The, BBC and Massachusetts General Hospital
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