Exercise Remains Crucial Alongside GLP-1 Obesity Drugs, Experts and Studies Suggest

Weight-loss drugs may be changing obesity treatment, but they are not replacing one of medicine's most powerful tools: movement. A new perspective published in the Journal of the American Medical Association argues that exercise remains essential—even in the era of popular GLP-1 medications.

The article explores a growing concern in obesity care: many patients lose weight with GLP-1 therapies, but struggle to maintain muscle mass and long-term results without physical activity.

GLP-1 drugs work largely by reducing appetite and calorie intake—sometimes by nearly 40%—leading to substantial weight loss. However, researchers warn that a significant portion of this weight loss can come from fat-free mass, including muscle. This raises the risk of sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss, which can weaken strength, mobility, and metabolic health over time.

Exercise offers benefits that medication alone cannot fully replace. Physical activity improves insulin sensitivity, increases fat burning, supports cardiovascular health, and most importantly, helps preserve muscle during weight loss. It also plays a major role in preventing weight regain, especially since studies show up to 60% of patients stop taking GLP-1 medications within a year.

The challenge is adherence. Many people find exercise difficult to sustain due to a lack of time, physical discomfort, limited access to facilities, or simply because it feels unrewarding. The authors argue that clinicians should move beyond generic advice like “exercise more” and instead help patients build realistic, personalized movement routines they can actually maintain.

In the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, the message is clear: medications may accelerate weight loss, but sustainable health still depends heavily on staying active.

REFERENCE: Lieberman, D.E., (2026). The Conundrum of Exercise for Weight Management in the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Era. JAMA. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2026.5537. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2848640