Ep 164 GLP-1 Bone Loss: What's Really Causing It
You've probably seen the headlines. Ozempic causes bone loss. GLP-1s destroy your bone density. And if you're a woman over 40 who's already thinking about osteoporosis, that's scary to read.
But the headline is too simple. In this episode, I break down what the research on GLP-1 bone loss actually shows — including why changes in bone density during significant weight loss are not the same thing as the medication damaging your bones, and what one 2024 study found about exercise and bone preservation that changes the whole conversation.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why "GLP-1s cause bone loss" goes further than the research supports
What's actually driving bone changes during GLP-1-assisted weight loss
Why menopause puts you at higher risk before the medication even enters the picture
Why muscle and bone are not two separate conversations
Why resistance training matters for bone — not just for strength
What to actually focus on to protect your bones while you lose weight
Resources Mentioned:
Weight Loss Induced Bone Loss: Mechanism of Action and Clinical Implications — Bone Research (2025): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41413-025-00483-4
Hansen et al. (2024) — Semaglutide and bone health in postmenopausal women at fracture risk, eClinicalMedicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11087719/
Jensen et al. (2024) — Liraglutide, exercise, and bone mineral density, JAMA Network Open: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2820308
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