Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Adults with obesity who started glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist therapy showed significant drops in physical activity. Researchers shared these findings at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. This trend is important because these treatments reduce both fat and muscle mass. As a result, patients need regular exercise to maintain muscle health and long-term functioning during their treatment.
This retrospective pre-post cohort study examined data from the All of Us Research Program. The researchers connected electronic health records with data from wearable devices. Of the 1,950 adults who began therapy, 753 provided enough data for analysis. The final group was mostly female, making up 78.6 percent, with an average age of 52.7 years.
Investigators measured physical activity before and after starting treatment. They specifically looked at daily step counts and minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The average daily steps dropped from 5,047 to 4,487 during the study period. At the same time, average daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity decreased from 28 to 22.
The most significant declines were seen in men and those reporting joint or muscle pain. Other factors did not have much effect on these outcomes. For instance, age, history of heart failure, and previous strokes showed no statistical difference. Thus, the decrease appears consistent across most patient groups.
The study found no proof that weight loss leads to increased physical activity. This challenges the common belief that losing weight automatically means improved mobility. Given this, physical limitations may continue even after successful treatments. Additionally, losing weight alone does not fix a habit of inactivity.
These receptor agonists are effective in managing chronic weight and helping with blood sugar control. Their proven ability to lower total body weight encourages wide clinical use. However, the simultaneous loss of muscle mass highlights the need for clear exercise recommendations. Doctors must consider these changes to improve long-term outcomes for patients.
Physical activity is essential for protecting muscle tissue during treatment. This study is the first large-scale analysis using data from wearable fitness trackers in this group. This method gives the project a unique approach. Therefore, clinicians prescribing these medications should include physical activity counseling in standard obesity treatment plans.
