As the number of individuals taking weight loss injections skyrockets, scientists have increasingly warned about the possible side effects.
Although there is yet to be a comprehensive list of the direct consequences, weight loss medications often leave patients plagued with indirect reactions, such as sagging skin and what has been dubbed “Ozempic face”, characterised by sunken eyes and gaunt cheeks.
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Scientists have warned that Ozempic could weaken muscles
The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, could be particularly relevant to those who are already faced with ailments from muscle deterioration and mobility problems.
“The loss of physical function is a strong predictor of not just quality of life but longevity,” study co-author and researcher Dr Katsu Funai stated.
As part of the study, the research team at the University of Utah uncovered that mice experiencing Ozempic-induced weight reduction showed decreased muscle force in certain muscles, despite minimal changes to muscle dimensions.
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This disconnect between muscle size and strength presents worrying implications for human users, especially those over 60.
The investigation revealed that while overall lean mass dropped by approximately 10 per cent during weight reduction, this decrease stemmed primarily from non-muscular tissues.
The liver experienced the most dramatic shrinkage, reducing to nearly half its original size.
Meanwhile, skeletal muscles themselves showed more modest changes, declining by roughly six per cent on average. This relatively small reduction did not take into account for the total lean mass loss observed.
“Loss of mass in metabolically active organs, such as the liver, is expected as part of healthy weight loss,” said Ran Hee Choi, PhD, co-first author on the study.
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Varying responses to the drug were recorded
“It’s unlikely that the observed lean mass loss represents a serious adverse effect,” added Takuya Karasawa, co-first author.
The research team discovered varying responses across different muscle groups during testing. Certain muscles retained their dimensions but demonstrated reduced force-generating capacity, while others showed no strength changes whatsoever.
“If we want to really help the individuals who may be losing muscle mass, then we need to know that they’re actually losing muscle mass,” said Dr Funai, senior author and associate professor of nutrition and integrative physiology.
“We have data in mice that suggests that things are not as straightforward as they might seem.”
However, researchers cautioned against directly applying mouse findings to humans, as mice and humans gain and lose weight in different ways.
Dr Funai said: “Our findings are really interesting, but this is a preclinical model. We need this data [from] people.”
He added that clinical trials should check for changes in muscle strength, not just for Ozempic but also for future weight-loss drugs.
The scientists have called for further studies to assess the real-life impact on human case studies.