Weight loss jabs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are up to twice as likely to lead users to skip meals, increasing risks of nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss, a study indicates. The change in eating habits reduces opportunities for adequate protein intake, with 88% of GLP-1 RA users failing to consume enough protein, according to researchers. Inadequate micronutrient intake can put people at risk of conditions like hair loss, fatigue, slow wound healing, impaired immune system, and osteoporosis.
Nutritionists from IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy, analyzed 5,741 days of data from 332 overweight or obese patients who tracked what they ate using an AI-powered mobile app. The study compared total calorie intake, macronutrient intake, protein adequacy, meal patterns, and weight loss between 116 GLP-1 RA users and 216 non-users. Despite lower absolute intakes, the percentage of daily calories derived from protein, carbohydrates, and fat were nearly identical between GLP-1 RA users and non-users, indicating a proportional reduction in food intake rather than changes in diet quality.
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1 to regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite, and they have been shown to reduce calorie intake by between 16% to 39%. Little research has previously examined the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on diet quality or the intake of key macro- and micronutrients, such as protein, fibre, vitamins, iron, and calcium. There is an urgent need for patients prescribed weight loss jabs to be monitored and given personalized dietary guidelines to support safe and sustainable weight loss, researchers say.