quicksilver80
Explorer
I find it impossible to stay still lately. A lot of my problems come from not getting enough done, whereas in the past it tended to be the reverse.
Does GLP 1 really make people lazy?
- Thread starter Schwossy
- Start date
lessthanhalf
Explorer
There are solid theoretical grounds for thinking GLP drugs might lower exercise levels. The most basic explanation: prolonged low calorie intake triggers compensatory changes in energy expenditure, one of which is a drop in voluntary movement as the body tries to hold onto energy and fat stores. These drugs also affect hedonic and motivational behaviors, so in the same way a person may lose interest in food or alcohol, the drive to exercise could diminish too. It would be worth knowing whether the same exercise effect appears when weight comes off through diet or surgery.
After substantial weight has been lost, though, these medications can clearly boost activity—mobility improves, arthritis pain eases, and the self-consciousness obese people feel when exercising in public goes down. The study obviously didn't capture that, but this forum shows it happening.
I'm not fond of statements like “The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications,” he said. “People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity.”
I fully agree exercise should be encouraged, but withholding or refusing medication based on whether someone exercises is simply faulty reasoning. Plenty of reasons exist why people don't exercise regularly, and obese people on average are far less likely to be active than non obese people; expecting them to suddenly sustain a regular exercise routine after starting a weight loss drug is unrealistic. Most people already capable of that are doing it, and those who don't for physical or psychological reasons are unlikely to suddenly take up consistent exercise in their 50s after decades without it. People with poor diets who don't exercise still benefit from GLP drugs even if neither habit changes, and in some ways they're the most important group to treat, since other options simply won't happen. Believing exercise is non-negotiable for obese people on GLP drugs is wishful thinking, and pressing those people harder to exercise may backfire, causing them to drop out and get no benefit—whereas those on bad diets who don't exercise but lose a lot of weight often see dramatically better health risks and improved functional capacity from the weight loss alone.
Then there's this: “In my practice, if a patient is unable to exercise, is not meeting protein goals or shows concerning muscle loss on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication – because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss,” she said.
That could be reasonable depending on exactly how it's carried out; otherwise it amounts to punishing or coercively controlling patients for being sick (the sickness here being obesity). One of the problems obese people face that contributes to their weight is an inability to exercise for one reason or another, and expecting older obese people to suddenly start exercising consistently is unrealistic in many cases. There is zero evidence that muscle mass loss from GLP drug therapy reduces functional capacity, and quite good evidence that it improves the ability to do day to day activities—simply because the large loss of fat mass has a much bigger effect than the smaller loss of muscle. The obvious example: walking up some stairs after losing 20 kilos.
After substantial weight has been lost, though, these medications can clearly boost activity—mobility improves, arthritis pain eases, and the self-consciousness obese people feel when exercising in public goes down. The study obviously didn't capture that, but this forum shows it happening.
I'm not fond of statements like “The findings in our study reinforce that exercise cannot be optional for people taking these medications,” he said. “People need targeted interventions that encourage physical activity alongside medication for obesity.”
I fully agree exercise should be encouraged, but withholding or refusing medication based on whether someone exercises is simply faulty reasoning. Plenty of reasons exist why people don't exercise regularly, and obese people on average are far less likely to be active than non obese people; expecting them to suddenly sustain a regular exercise routine after starting a weight loss drug is unrealistic. Most people already capable of that are doing it, and those who don't for physical or psychological reasons are unlikely to suddenly take up consistent exercise in their 50s after decades without it. People with poor diets who don't exercise still benefit from GLP drugs even if neither habit changes, and in some ways they're the most important group to treat, since other options simply won't happen. Believing exercise is non-negotiable for obese people on GLP drugs is wishful thinking, and pressing those people harder to exercise may backfire, causing them to drop out and get no benefit—whereas those on bad diets who don't exercise but lose a lot of weight often see dramatically better health risks and improved functional capacity from the weight loss alone.
Then there's this: “In my practice, if a patient is unable to exercise, is not meeting protein goals or shows concerning muscle loss on body composition analysis, I will often hold or adjust the medication – because preserving strength, function and metabolic health is just as important as weight loss,” she said.
That could be reasonable depending on exactly how it's carried out; otherwise it amounts to punishing or coercively controlling patients for being sick (the sickness here being obesity). One of the problems obese people face that contributes to their weight is an inability to exercise for one reason or another, and expecting older obese people to suddenly start exercising consistently is unrealistic in many cases. There is zero evidence that muscle mass loss from GLP drug therapy reduces functional capacity, and quite good evidence that it improves the ability to do day to day activities—simply because the large loss of fat mass has a much bigger effect than the smaller loss of muscle. The obvious example: walking up some stairs after losing 20 kilos.
Calm Logic
Explorer
Great breakdown. I was too busy working out to get through the article
BNLFL
Explorer
That hit me for roughly a month, then it faded and I'm back to my Energizer Bunny self—as much as my age allows, anyway.
For 3 weeks now I've been doing light lifting and sit ups. The dumbbells I had were starting to feel easy, so I just picked up heavier ones. My only regret is not beginning back in January when I first started this stuff.spanky2026 said:
Hey, any of us Seniors on a GLP who are reading this — good news: according to science, you only need FOUR MINUTES of exercise per day! I'm fully on board with this study.
Just 4 minutes a day can dramatically improve strength after 65 | ScienceDaily https://share.google/9k8kl3fv0NmbJFcjs
Just A Cat
Explorer
By any chance were you that kid who wasn't much fun to hang around with and ended up spending the bulk of summer school in detention? /lol /friendly joke.SoCalGirl said:
That's a fair point.
Honestly, I mostly come here for the community. My actual work happens on the other board. It's just that everyone here is so entertaining that I can't stay away!
animeIsrael
Explorer
I had been having 0% protein milk daily, staying in the 1500–2000kcal range while on 2mg/wk of reta. I kept up with weights and cardio, was dropping 2lbs/wk, and was happy with the muscle recomp I was seeing. The anhedonia is genuine—I opted out of some social events just to get more sleep. For me, creatine and taurine genuinely helped with endurance.
ThePepPlanner
Explorer
Honestly, opting for sleep instead of social events doesn't strike me as anhedonia—it seems more like a pretty reasonable life choice.
No worries — I never took you as someone trying to shame anybody about this. Odd as it may sound, the harshest anti-GLP views I've come across have come from medical professionals who've been thin their whole lives.
Faberhome22
Explorer
True — running isn't for everyone. Fortunately, there are countless other ways for me to build strength and improve my fitness instead.
BPCPlease
Explorer
Wow — completing 2 miles of running at 250# is genuinely a big achievement. These days I'm at 264#, and I put serious effort into my gym sessions, yet running 2 miles isn't something I could manage at this point. Maybe one day....
LetsGoWolves
Explorer
I haven't actually gone through the study myself, though I can see it's an observational, retrospective design. Finding correlation is the most such a study can accomplish — it has no way of establishing causation. Odds are good that peer review will tear it apart.
Still, this is precisely the kind of research the mainstream media seizes on and blows out of proportion, because it generates clicks and outrage. And it will draw out the "these fat people are driving up my insurance costs" crowd.
Still, this is precisely the kind of research the mainstream media seizes on and blows out of proportion, because it generates clicks and outrage. And it will draw out the "these fat people are driving up my insurance costs" crowd.
