Khaberni - A prominent doctor warned that popular weight loss injections could lead to decreased bone density, but reassured users that the problem is not with the drug itself, but with the rate of weight loss.
Dr. Karan Rajan, known on the platform "Tik Tok," explained in a video on his account that GLP-1 inhibitors (drugs that mimic a natural hormone secreted by the intestines to control sugar and appetite) are very popular due to their effectiveness in treating diabetes and aiding weight loss.
However, he cautioned that any rapid weight loss, no matter the method, can negatively affect bone health.
Dr. Raj explained that when the body loses weight rapidly, it loses both fat and muscle. As the body weight decreases, the mechanical load on the bones decreases, and this load is what stimulates the bones to maintain their strength and density.
Simply put, when body mass decreases, the bones feel less need to remain strong, so their density begins to decrease.
Dr. Raj confirmed that scientific studies do not indicate that GLP-1 drugs themselves cause direct damage to the bones, but some preliminary research suggests neutral or even protective effects of these drugs on bone tissue. He cited a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2024, which followed patients taking the drug "Tirzepatide" (one type of these injections) for 72 weeks, and found a slight decrease in bone mineral density of 1 to 2% only in the hip area, a rate similar to that occurring with any other method of weight loss to the same extent.
This means that the risk is not in the injections themselves, but in rapid weight loss by any method. Fortunately, Dr. Raj offers practical tips for maintaining bone health during the weight loss journey, whether using these injections or otherwise:
. First: Engage in weightlifting exercises, because the mechanical load from lifting weights stimulates the cells responsible for bone building.
. Second: Ensure a sufficient intake of protein while following a low-calorie diet, at a rate of 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, because protein supports both muscles and bones.
. Third: Engage in activities that create an impact on the bones like walking, jumping, and running.
. Fourth: Avoid losing more than 1% of body weight per week, as slow weight loss better preserves muscles and bones.
What the study also confirms is that adding physical exercises to the treatment plan with these injections makes it an effective strategy for weight loss while simultaneously maintaining bone health. Thus, the solution is not to stop using effective medications, but to build healthy habits alongside them.
