GLP-1 medications have revolutionized the medical management of weight reduction, providing significant and lasting weight loss for a rising number of people. But one basic principle remains crucial.
Weight loss alone does not define health.
At Human Powered Health, we take a clinical and performance-based approach to GLP-1 therapy to help ensure weight loss maintains metabolic function, retains muscle, and improves long-term outcomes.
A recent CBS Minnesota feature followed Jenn Glass, a patient at Astride Health who lost more than 30 pounds on a GLP-1 medication. The weight loss was impressive, but she found herself paying attention to something more essential than the number on the scale.
At Human Powered Health Edina, she had a DEXA Scan done to look at her body composition, including lean muscle mass and visceral fat. Her approach included medical support, baseline testing, ongoing measurement, and a systematic plan to protect her long-term health.
Progress is not defined by how much weight is lost but by what is preserved and improved in the process.
GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce appetite, slow digestion, and improve blood sugar regulation. These effects generate a caloric deficit, resulting in weight loss.
However, the body does not selectively lose fat.
As Dr. Chuck Svendsen, chief medical officer and former bariatric surgeon, emphasized in the CBS Minnesota report, all weight loss includes some degree of muscle loss if it is not actively addressed.
During weight reduction, individuals typically lose:
This is the key variable that determines whether weight loss improves or undermines overall health.
Lean muscle is essential for long-term metabolic and physical health. It directly influences:
Loss of muscle mass can result in:
This is why a scale doesn’t tell the whole story. The number does not reflect the quality of the outcome.
Preserving muscle during GLP-1 therapy requires a structured and evidence-based approach.
Strength Training as a Required Stimulus
As reinforced by Dr. Chuck Svendsen, maintaining muscle requires actively using muscle.
A structured program should include:
This is the physiological signal for maintenance of lean tissue.
Protein remains a cornerstone of muscle preservation during weight loss.
Clinical guidance typically includes:
Hitting these protein goals will ensure muscle protein synthesis and reduce the risk of lean tissue loss.
GLP-1 medications significantly reduce appetite, but overly aggressive caloric restriction can accelerate muscle loss.
A balanced nutritional approach supports:
One of the most important shifts for Jenn was the use of DEXA Scan testing to understand what was actually changing in the body.
At Human Powered Health, advanced body composition testing allows for:
Our testing ensures that decisions are based on data, not assumptions.
Baseline testing was a key component of Jenn’s approach, and it remains foundational to effective GLP-1 therapy.
At Human Powered Health, baseline assessments include:
Data allows for:
Without a baseline, progress cannot be properly measured.
GLP-1 medications are a powerful tool, but they are not a complete solution on their own.
The most effective outcomes occur when these medications are integrated into a comprehensive model that includes:
One of the most important outcomes seen in patients is a shift in mindset.
Sustainable success is built on understanding:
We provide the data and expertise required to answer these questions with clarity.
If you are currently using a GLP-1 medication or considering starting one, our expert guidance can significantly improve your results.
During your consultation, you will:
Human Powered Health is staffed with Master's and PhD-level performance physiologists who are dedicated to helping you improve your health and performance. Our product is a healthier you, and we have the science to make you better than ever.
Human Powered Health uses high-precision, research-grade technology for all assessments in order to provide a superior level of service and quality for anyone who wants to learn more about their health and performance metrics.
We are on a mission to power health and athletic performance for motivated humans. Your body belongs to you. You deserve accurate information about it. We give everyone the data and expertise to fine-tune their own health and athletic performance. Because knowledge is power, and true health is self-made.