Ozempic users may be making a major weight

Key Points:

• A new study presented at ENDO 2026 found that adults with obesity using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy for weight loss significantly decreased their physical activity, with average daily steps dropping from 5,047 to 4,487 and moderate-to-vigorous activity reducing from 28 to 22 minutes.
• The research highlighted that GLP-1 drugs reduce both fat and lean muscle mass, making exercise essential to preserve strength and long-term health, especially since weight loss from these medications does not automatically increase physical activity.
• Experts emphasize that exercise, including resistance training and regular movement, is critical for GLP-1 users to maintain muscle mass and metabolic health, while side effects like fatigue and nausea may hinder activity, necessitating tailored fitness plans and close clinical monitoring.
• Some clinicians, like Dr. Amanda Kahn, argue that with proper medical oversight and integrated care focusing on nutrition and exercise, GLP-1 therapy can motivate patients to become more physically active and healthier, countering the study’s findings of decreased exercise.
• The study was observational and mostly involved middle-aged women, limiting generalizability, and did not account for prior exercise habits or motivation, indicating the need for further research and personalized approaches in obesity treatment with GLP-1 medications.