Originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1, which prompts the pancreas to make more insulin after meals. The extra insulin helps regulate blood sugar, but the drugs can also reduce appetite and slow the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine, helping people feel full faster, which can promote weight loss.
But one thing to keep in mind is that losing weight, particularly in a rapid manner, can also lead to muscle and bone loss, says John Batsis, MD, an associate professor of medicine in the department of geriatric medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and an American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) diplomate.
Muscle and bone loss can impede older adults’ physical function and ability to live independently, Dr. Batsis says.
“Both muscle mass and strength impact muscle quality, which is key to ensuring individuals can conduct their daily activities,” he says. “Losing muscle mass and strength can lead to sarcopenia [age-related involuntary muscle loss], which increases the risk for functional decline, disability, nursing home placement, and death.”
Strength training and a protein-rich diet can help reduce loss of muscle and bone, but shedding pounds quickly may inhibit the body’s ability to adjust, Batsis notes.
Of course, obesity can also hinder older adults’ health and quality of life, but Batsis says there’s a “fine balance” to strike when it comes to weight loss.
Further research on the effects of GLP-1s on older adults could help healthcare providers and patients achieve that balance more effectively.