Two Obesity Specialists Say Two Simple Habits Protect Muscle on Glp-1s

Two obesity specialists told Newsweek that the key to protecting muscle comes down to two simple habits. As GLP-1 medications continue to transform obesity treatment, a new concern has emerged alongside stories of dramatic weight loss: muscle loss. A July 2026 Gallup survey found that 11 percent of U.S. adults are now taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, nearly four times the share recorded in 2024. Since then, terms such as "Ozempic butt" and "Ozempic face" have been floating around on social media, while some headlines have warned that a significant portion of weight lost on the medications may come from lean tissue rather than fat.

But obesity specialists believe the reality is more nuanced, and that losing some muscle during weight loss is neither unique to GLP-1s nor necessarily a sign that something has gone wrong. Carol Eisenstat, a board-certified anesthesiologist and founder of the physician-run weight-loss program SlimMD in New Jersey, said losing some lean mass during weight loss is expected regardless of how the weight comes off. One thing that people sometimes lose track of is that loss of some lean mass is not specific to GLP-1s, she told Newsweek.