Camilla Jessen
Novo Nordisk responds to user complaints.
People taking popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy say the medications are helping them shed pounds but some are now warning of an unexpected trade-off.
Wegovy and Ozempic work by reducing cravings and quieting what many describe as “food noise.”
While widely effective for weight loss and diabetes management, users have begun sharing side effects that go beyond digestive issues or shifts in libido.
On a Wegovy subreddit, a user wrote, “I started at 203 and I’m down to 171 since April… But I’ve been noticing how extremely weak my legs have been.”
They said everyday activities now cause discomfort despite being only 32.
On an Ozempic forum, another user described losing muscle in their arms and legs, adding, “I feel awkward, and a bit self conscious… How do I go about getting some muscle back… Is it even possible while taking oz?”
Research on muscle loss
A recent University of Utah study reported that Ozempic-related weight loss reduced lean mass by roughly 10 percent, with much of it coming from metabolically active tissues such as the liver.
Co-author Ran Hee Choi, PhD, said these shifts can occur in healthy weight loss, though more research is needed to understand long-term effects in humans.
Mouse studies conducted by the same team found certain skeletal muscles shrank about six percent. Strength declined in some muscles even when size remained the same, while others stayed stable.
Novo Nordisk said clinical trials “did not specifically study the medicine’s impact on muscle mass,” but noted that DEXA data from a STEP 1 sub-study showed reductions in both fat and lean tissue, with fat decreasing more.
The company advised patients with concerns to speak with their clinicians.
Protecting strength
Experts emphasize that users need to adapt their habits to preserve muscle.
Pharmacist Nayan Patel told Vox that GLP-1 medications work best alongside a high-protein diet and regular strength training.
“If you don’t change your behavior… you may be losing weight, but metabolically, your body is in turmoil,” he said. “We’ve got to use these drugs in the right manner.”
Sources: UNILAD, Vox, University of Utah, AP
