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Beyond the Scale: Safeguarding Muscle During GLP-1 Weight Loss with Protein and Tech” [Medical Xpress]

Hello all - excited to share a summary of a recent research article published in Medical Xpress for your information to help on your Weight Loss Journey (full article at the bottom of this summary) -Daryl


Semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) are game-changers in weight loss, but they also raise a new concern: keeping your muscles. These medications are super effective at cutting weight, but studies show that up to 40% of the weight lost could come from lean body mass (your muscles). That’s a lot of muscle mass to lose! It’s definitely something to keep an eye on for long-term health.


At Pacific Northwest Medical Group, we’ve been aware of this concern from the beginning and are committed to preventing it. We use cutting-edge technology to measure, monitor, and ensure success for our patients in achieving muscle mass and weight loss. We have two 3D Body Scanning machines: the Styku 3D Laser Body Scanner and the ShapeScale 3D Photo Realistic Body Scanner.


Maintaining muscle mass while losing weight is super important for a few reasons. Muscles are like little helpers that boost your metabolism, help you build protein when you’re sick, and even send out special messages called myokines. To keep your muscles strong while taking Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, experts say to make sure you’re getting enough protein and doing some resistance training.


Protein is super important for weight loss, especially when you’re taking these medications. The research recommends 0.7 to 1 gram of protein for every pound of your body weight (which corresponds to the ~100 to 120g minimum we recommend to most patients). This helps keep your lean muscle mass while you lose fat. It also helps keep your muscles strong and healthy, so you don’t lose muscle mass when you lose weight quickly.


Along with the reduced calorie intake these medications help patients control, incorporating some resistance training into your routine is pivotal. This combination of adequate protein and resistance training creates an optimal environment for preserving muscle mass while shedding unwanted fat. We provide resistance bands for free to our patients, along with a workout booklet to leverage them to their full potential.


To accurately track progress and ensure muscle mass preservation, 3D laser body scans have emerged as a game-changing tool. Unlike traditional methods such as scales or tape measures, 3D body scans provide a comprehensive view of body composition changes. These scans offer precise measurements of body fat percentage, muscle mass, and even posture, allowing for detailed tracking of progress over time.


For patients on GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide, 3D body scans are particularly valuable. They can help monitor the ratio of fat loss to muscle loss, ensuring that weight reduction is primarily coming from fat stores rather than lean mass. This visual feedback not only motivates patients but also allows us at the clinic adjust recommendations for each patient to optimize the balance between weight loss and muscle preservation.


By combining medications with proper nutrition, resistance training, and the precision of 3D body scans, our patients achieve significant weight loss while safeguarding their valuable muscle mass.


This combined approach ensures not just a lower number on the scale, but a healthier, more balanced body composition for long-term wellness. This is something very unique our Clinic offers that you do not see in most other online providers that just send out medication, or even from Primary Doctors who just provide a prescription to these medications.




Pacific Northwest Medical Group

6622 112th ST E, Puyallup WA 98373

253-340-2270




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Contact Info

6622 112th ST E
Puyallup, WA 98373

 

(253) 340-2270

 

results@pnwmedicalgroup.com

© Copyright 2025  Pacific Northwest Medical Group. All rights reserved.

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