A muscle-building drug could counter the loss of body mass associated with weight loss drugs, scientists have discovered.
Slimming jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro have reshaped slimming culture since studies showed they are capable of 25 to 40 per cent - but at the cost of reducing lean body mass, which includes muscle.
This is problematic, given that lean body mass is one of the most crucial components of overall strength.
But a small trial suggests that the use of monoclonal antibody, known as apitegromab, can help retain lean body mass in patients using tirzepatide - the main ingredient in Mounjaro.
Almost 4.7 million Britons have already taken weight
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Obesity expert at Ulster University, Professor Alexander Miras, described the findings as important, as the loss of muscle mass linked to weight loss drugs compromises a patient’s ability to carry out basic activities.
He shared: “This new medication may help reduce the effects of GLP-1-based drugs on muscle strength and therefore improve functionality even further compared to someone not on the new medication who is just taking tizerpatide."
The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was performed on 102 patients divided into two groups, with 51 given apitegromab alongside tizepatide, and the other 51 given a placebo with tizepatide.
After 24 weeks, the total weight loss was similar for the two groups. Participants receiving the apitegromab lost 1.6kg of lean mass, while those in the placebo group lost 3.5kg of lean mass on average.
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Cardiometabolic medicine expert at the University of Glasgow said: “This is an early-stage study that suggests novel drugs can help mitigate muscle mass loss with prescribed tizepatide.
“However, it’s too early to say whether this actually benefits people’s health or ability to move or function better.
“In the meantime, people prescribed these drugs should be supported to increase their physical activity, as this can help maintain muscle mass in a physiological way.
“Importantly, activity should also be framed as something enjoyable and sustainable, rather than purely as a medical add-on."
Britain is witnessing an unprecedented surge in appetite for weight loss injections, according to fresh research from The Food Foundation.
The study reveals that approximately 8.25 million people across the nation—representing roughly one in seven adults—have either tried, are currently using, or are actively contemplating these so-called "skinny jabs."
Lean muscle mass is essential for healthy ageing
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The figures reveal that nearly 4.7 million Britons have already administered these medications, which function by replicating a natural hormone that curbs hunger and promotes satiety.
Patients can shed between 10 and 15 per cent of their body weight. Yet despite this remarkable demand, NHS provision remains severely constrained.
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