Why is preserving lean muscle mass essential when reducing calorie intake on a GLP-1 medication?

Because protein is vital for muscle repair and retention, which maintains a healthy metabolism.

Protein is highlighted as the most critical macronutrient for individuals utilizing GLP-1 medications for weight management because of its crucial role in body composition maintenance. When an individual reduces overall caloric intake as a result of increased satiety signals, there is an inherent risk of losing lean muscle mass alongside fat mass. Losing muscle tissue negatively impacts the resting metabolic rate, making long-term weight management significantly more challenging. Protein ingestion is vital because it directly supports muscle repair and retention, ensuring that the weight lost is primarily fat. Furthermore, protein requires more energy expenditure for the body to digest compared to fats or carbohydrates, subtly assisting in maintaining feelings of fullness between meals.