(NewsNation) — New research suggests popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may affect more than just fat, raising questions about muscle strength and organ size after significant weight loss.
University of Utah scientists studied semaglutide, the active ingredient in weight loss medications, in mice.
In the study, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, researchers revealed "unexpected effects," highlighting that lean mass, or body weight that isn't fat, dropped about 10%. Most of the loss came from nonmuscle tissues, particularly the liver, which shrank by nearly half. Some skeletal muscles lost around 6% of their size, while others remained unchanged.
Despite relatively small changes in muscle size, certain muscles became weaker. Researchers said this could be especially