A doctor issued some advice about weight loss jabs (Image: Getty)
A doctor has issued a warning to anyone on weight loss jabs. According to the expert, they can result in a loss in bone density.
These drugs are also referred to as GLP-1 inhibitors. GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone produced in the gut that helps control blood sugar and appetite.
The use of GLP-1 inhibitors has surged in recent years due to their effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels among diabetic patients and aiding weight loss. Available in injection form, some of these medications can be obtained through the NHS for eligible patients.
However, as with any medication, they can cause side effects. Speaking on TikTok, Doctor Karan Rajan explained more.
Dr Rajan, who is better known as Dr Raj, said: “If you’re on a GLP-1, you can lose bone density.” However, he clarified that this could happen with any form of weight loss.
He continued: “But any weight loss can cause that. There’s no plausible biological mechanism by which semaglutide, tirzepatide, or any GLP-1 medication directly contributes to bone loss or activates osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, or blocks osteoblasts, the cells that build bone.”
He explained more: “GLP-1 receptors exist in bone tissue. And in pre-clinical studies, GP-1s appear to have neutral or even protective benefits.”
Losing weight “very quickly” by any means can affect your bones, he said. “Rapid weight loss from any cause can lead to a greater bone density loss,” he continued.
“When you lose weight very quickly, you lose fat and lean mass, and that includes muscle. And your bones adapt to the mechanical load placed on them.
“Less body weight equals less load, which equals a reduced stimulus for bone maintenance.” As a result, you could lose bone density due to bariatric surgery and extreme dieting, as well as GLP-1s “if you don’t build the lifestyle foundational habits”.
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He referenced a scientific study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2024. This study looked at people who were on tirzepatide, which is one types of GLP-1 inhibitor, for 72 weeks.
Dr Raj said: “They found small decreases in bone mineral density, around one to two per cent at the hip, but this is consistent with what we see in equivalent weight loss with any method.
“The weight loss, not the drug itself, explains the bone changes.”
How to prevent this
Even while losing weight, there are ways to protect your bone health, he said. Dr Raj said: “But you can protect your bones on any weight loss period, including GLP-1s.
“Lift weights to put mechanical load on the bones. The mechanical load stimulates osteoblasts through mechanotransduction.
“Aim for adequate protein on a calorie deficit, around 1.6 grams per kilo. Protein supports the muscle and bone matrix.
“Impact stimulus, like walking, jumping, running. And try to avoid losing more than one per cent of your body weight per week.”
He added: “Slower weight loss preserves muscle and bone.” This advice was supported by the results of the study mentioned earlier.
Study authors wrote: “These findings suggest that the addition of exercise to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment is an effective weight loss strategy while preserving bone health.”
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
