Dr. Karan Rajan, who is known on the TikTok platform, explained in a video on his account that GLP-1 inhibitors (drugs that mimic a natural hormone secreted by the intestines to control sugar and appetite) are very popular thanks to their effectiveness in treating diabetes and helping with weight loss.
But he warned that any rapid weight loss, regardless of the method, could negatively affect bone health.
Dr. Raj explained that when the body loses weight too quickly, it loses both fat and muscle. As body weight decreases, the mechanical load on the bones is reduced, and this reduced load is what stimulates the bones to maintain their strength and density.
Simply put, when body mass decreases, the bones feel less need to stay strong, and their density begins to decrease.
Dr. Raj emphasized that scientific studies do not indicate that GLP-1 drugs themselves cause direct bone damage. In fact, some preliminary research suggests that these drugs have neutral or even protective effects on bone tissue. He cited a 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that followed patients taking terzepate (one of these injectable drugs) for 72 weeks and found a slight decrease in bone mineral density of only 1 to 2% in the hip area—a rate similar to that seen with other weight-loss methods of similar magnitude.
This means the danger lies not in the injections themselves, but in rapid weight loss by any means. Fortunately, Dr. Raj offers practical advice for maintaining bone health during your weight loss journey, whether using these injections or other methods:
First: Practice weightlifting exercises, because the mechanical load resulting from lifting weights stimulates the cells responsible for building bones.
Second: Make sure to consume enough protein while following a low-calorie diet, at a rate of 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight, because protein supports both muscles and bones.
Third: Engaging in activities that have an effect on the bones, such as walking, jumping, and running.
Fourth: Avoid losing more than 1% of body weight per week, because slower weight loss preserves muscles and bones better.
The study also confirms that adding exercise to the treatment plan using these injections makes it an effective strategy for weight loss while simultaneously maintaining bone health. Therefore, the solution is not to stop using effective medications, but rather to build a comprehensive set of healthy habits alongside them.
