{"id":291042,"date":"2025-11-14T11:47:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T11:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/291042\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T11:47:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T11:47:10","slug":"exercising-while-taking-glp-1s-is-crucial-for-protecting-your-bones-study-proves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/291042\/","title":{"rendered":"Exercising while taking GLP-1s is crucial for protecting your bones, study proves"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s no denying that the adoption of GLP-1 receptor agonists has risen rapidly in recent years. More than one in 10 women in the UK currently use GLP-1s for weight management, according to a Juniper report<\/a>, and Kantar noted<\/a> that the number of users rose from 2.3% of Brits in March 2024 to 4.1% in August 2025. But did you know they could have an impact on your bone health?<\/p>\n

While these drugs, which mimic the effects of the hormone GLP-1 by slowing stomach emptying and promoting a feeling of fullness, are often viewed as a quick solution, rapid weight loss is associated with bone density reduction, as the reduced load \u2013 the weight, pressure or stress your bones have to bear \u2013 decreases the need to form new skeletal tissue, as the more pressure on your bones, the more your bones are forced to become stronger. <\/p>\n

‘Bones harden and increase their density when they\u2019re exposed to load, to withstand that impact,’ explains Monty Simmons<\/a>, PT, advanced strength and conditioning coach with over 12 years’ experience and founder of MWM Training<\/a>. ‘Osteocytes, mature bone cells that help maintain bone structure and health, sense load and tell your body to make more bone as necessary. <\/p>\n

‘When that stress is reduced through a massive reduction in body mass, every movement sends less force through your skeleton, so there\u2019s less requirement for high bone density. Osteocytes and the electrical signals that activate them reduce, telling your body it doesn\u2019t need to maintain such dense, strong bone. <\/p>\n

‘Less weight also increases the signalling that activates osteoclasts, cells that break down bone,’ Simmons continues. ‘Osteoclasts break down bone by acidifying the tissue and degrading collagen, which is what a lot of bone is made from. When osteoclast activity exceeds osteoblast (bone-building) activity \u2013 the net result is loss of bone density.’<\/p>\n

Research supports this, as one trial<\/a> found that taking semaglutide (one form of GLP-1) was associated with lower bone density and an increased rate of bone breakdown. That’s why research<\/a> says exercise<\/a> is so crucial for protecting bone during treatment \u2013 here’s exactly what happened in the study, and how exercise could help you mitigate those effects.<\/p>\n

Women’s Health does not endorse off-label use of the medication and always advocates for lifestyle-first weight loss methods. For any questions about weight loss medications, contact your GP or pharmacist. <\/p>\n

The study<\/p>\n

A randomised clinical trial conducted in Denmark saw 195 non-diabetic people between the ages of 18 and 65 follow an eight-week calorie<\/a>-controlled diet of 800 calories per day. Then, over a year, a group of them performed moderate-to-vigorous-intensity exercise; another administered themselves 30 mg of the GLP-1 medication, liraglutide, daily; one group followed a programme combining both interventions; and the rest were placed in a placebo group. <\/p>\n

The results<\/p>\n

After investigating bone health at people’s critical areas in their hips, spines and forearms, researchers found that those who took just the liraglutide saw their bone mineral density drop compared to the exercise<\/a> group, with a mean decrease of 0.013 grams of mineral per centimetre of bone at their hips and 0.016 grams per centimetre at their spine. That’s a small loss short term, but could be meaningful if it continued over time. <\/p>\n

By contrast, the group who both took the drug and exercised had the same bone mass density as the placebo group at their hip \u2013 the mean change was 0.006g per square centimetre \u2013 and spine \u2013 the mean change was 0.01 grams per square centimetre of bone. Overall, that equated to a tiny decrease in density and no clear or statistically significant evidence of real bone loss. <\/p>\n

Incidentally, this group also lost the most weight, 16.88kg, compared to the 11.19kg lost by the exercise group and the 13.74kg by the liraglutide group. <\/p>\n

Best exercise to increase bone density<\/p>\n

‘GLP-1 medications can support weight loss, but they may also reduce muscle and bone mass,’ says Rowan Clift<\/a>, Freeletics<\/a> PT and nutrition specialist. ‘Incorporating resistance training such as squats, lunges, push-ups and weight-bearing exercises helps preserve bone density and strength.’ <\/p>\n

That’s because such exercises create bone compression \u2013 the force pushes and squeezes the length of the bone \u2013 which triggers osteoblasts to rebuild the bone, explains Simmons. ‘These movements increase internal bone friction and compression through the trusses and beams \u2013 bone’s inner structure. More weight-bearing means more osteocyte activation, and osteocytes then signal bone-building cells, osteoblasts, to build bone back up.’ <\/p>\n

Similarly, high-impact activities like jogging or running and jumping rope increase the weight and stress on your bones, according to OrthoInfo,<\/a> as do sports like tennis, badminton and basketball. However, dancing, hiking and stair climbing also can prevent bone loss. <\/p>\n

Commonly used compound weightlifting exercises, like the squat<\/a> and deadlift<\/a>, place large amounts of tension at the hip and lumbar spine, increasing both muscle mass and bone density, reports one study<\/a>. And bodyweight<\/a> exercises like split squats, single-legged squats and bridges, also target your muscles at these areas if equipment is not available or you are unable to perform conventional exercises with significant load. <\/p>\n

‘Strength training is especially important as reduced food intake also means you’re probably consuming less protein and calcium, which are crucial for maintaining and building bones,’ reminds Chloe Thomas<\/a>, PT and founder of Chloe Inspires Coaching<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Related Stories\"Headshot