Khaberni - A recent research review has revealed a worrying aspect of the widely popular weight loss injections, showing that these treatments could accelerate the aging process in the body by about 10 years.
According to the study conducted by Canadian researchers, these injections lead to a noticeable decrease in lean body mass, which poses a particular threat to middle-aged and older individuals. The loss of muscle mass weakens mobility and increases the likelihood of falls and poor health, upsetting the balance between the potential benefits and risks of this treatment.
Ironically, these injections were previously promoted for their significant benefits, including their ability to reduce the risk of death among heart patients by half, but the situation now appears more complicated.
Data has shown that between 20% to 50% of the weight lost by users is at the expense of muscle tissue, not accumulated fat, even among those who adhere to a regular exercise routine.
In an intriguing detail, researchers noted that people who engage in moderate physical activity for 150 minutes weekly and follow a low-calorie diet are not entirely immune to this effect, as they may lose up to 11% of their muscle mass. Researchers compared this to what occurs after major obesity surgeries or cancer treatments, or what equals a full decade of natural aging progress.
In light of these findings, experts recommend that users of these injections adopt a dual strategy that combines pharmaceutical treatment with a preventive approach, by engaging in strength training exercises twice to three times a week, and maintaining moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes weekly. This combination is not only necessary to preserve muscle mass during treatment but has also proven effective in continuing to burn fat and reducing the likelihood of weight regain after stopping the injections.
The scientific review concludes with an urgent call for integrated efforts among governmental institutions, the healthcare sector, and physical fitness centers, to develop comprehensive support programs aimed at protecting public health and reducing unintended side effects, as these medicines experience accelerated spread globally.
