0Comments
19 Dec 2025Have you seen the weight-loss injection ad featuring Serena Williams? She struggled to lose the weight she gained during pregnancy and used GLP-1 injections to lose 31 pounds in 8 months. She’s not alone.
RAND reports that almost 12% of Americans have used GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, and another 14% are interested. When you’re an athlete, are these medications safe? How do they impact your performance and stamina? Learn more about these drugs and how they affect your routine.
A Breakdown of How Weight Loss Injections Work
It’s hard to ignore the popularity of weight-loss injections, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. But how do they help you lose weight? It’s a three-part process.
Part 1: Appetite Control
The GLP-1 receptor agents in these injections mimic a hormone that regulates appetite in the hypothalamus. That hormone tells your body when it’s full. If you can eat a meal and still feel hungry, these weight-loss injections make a difference. You eat just a little and suddenly feel full.
It also lessens food cravings. Instead of suddenly craving something sweet or salty, the craving doesn’t arise, making it easier to avoid snacking between meals.
Finally, the medication affects the part of the brain that feels rewarded after eating something sweet or fatty, such as the satisfaction after eating a burger and fries. You don’t feel the same rush of dopamine, making those less healthy food choices less appealing.
Part 2: Slowed Digestion
GLP-1 also slows digestion. It increases the time food stays in the stomach, helping you feel full for longer. Your stomach still feels full hours after eating, so you’re less tempted to grab a between-meals snack.
Part 3: Improved Metabolism
The original intent of weight-loss medications was to regulate insulin and blood sugar better. They help you avoid rapid rises and spikes, keeping your blood sugar levels balanced. That enables you to avoid crashes that make you want to eat more to compensate.
If you carry extra weight, consider what keeps you from shedding those pounds. These medications help people whose brains send messages telling them they’re hungry, even when they’re not. As a result, GLP-1 drugs aren’t for everyone. That’s why it’s important to work with a doctor.
How They Help Athletic Performance
If you’re overweight, GLP-1 drugs can help you lose weight, especially if you’ve tried and failed with diet and exercise. Some people lose weight through diet and exercise alone, but hunger and cravings often make it hard to stay on track.
You also hit plateaus where you stop losing weight. You might gain more muscle and find that the muscle weight increases your overall weight. It’s frustrating and may make you give up.
GLP-1 injections help with those struggles. You lose weight, lowering your risk of joint, muscle, or bone injuries. As you shed pounds, your energy increases, which is helpful for athletic performance.
The Risks Athletes Face Using Them
While GLP-1 medicines sound great, they do come with risks. If an athlete uses them, it’s crucial that a sports medicine expert work with the patient to minimize these risks.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Common side effects of weight-loss medications include bloating, nausea, and vomiting. These side effects make it hard to fuel up for a game, match, or race. You can’t drink enough water or electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated. You don’t eat enough carbs to have the energy to finish a competition.
Hormonal Deficiencies
Another concern about your nutritional intake while taking GLP-1 medications is that it can lead to Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S). RED-S occurs when an athlete isn’t getting the right amount of fuel to match the energy expended in a game, practice, or daily life.
RED-S may lead to:
Cardiovascular changes that lower your heart rate and cause dizziness.
Changes your mood, which can increase the risk of anxiety and depression.
Decreased immunity makes it easier to become ill or to develop an infection.
Reproductive issues appear, such as missed periods or low libido.
Despite the decreased food intake, you need to make sure your meals are balanced. Medically-advised supplements help you avoid malnutrition.
Increased Fatigue
A decreased appetite could lead to undernutrition. If you’re not carefully balancing the foods you eat, you’re at risk of malnutrition. An imbalance of nutrients could increase fatigue and sap your energy, making practices, matches, or games harder to get through.
When you practice or compete while you’re tired, you risk falling, landing incorrectly, or twisting the wrong way. You’re more likely to get injured. Then, an injury delays you from practicing or competing in a race, game, or match.
Muscle Loss:
Glucagon-like peptide agents can help with weight loss, but they can also cause muscle loss. Preventing muscle loss requires high protein intake, weight training, hydration, and a proper balance of vitamins and minerals.
Weaker muscles also impact your physical safety. The muscular support for your joints diminishes, putting you at risk of joint injuries. Some people experience back, hip, and knee pain and injuries with GLP-1 medications. Strength training is essential.
Reduced Bone Density
Not eating enough calcium-rich foods while taking weight-loss drugs increases the risk of low bone mineral density. Weaker bones are more likely to fracture. Calcium and vitamin D supplements are essential. You also need to exercise regularly so that your bones and muscles support each other.
The Value in Working With a Sports Medicine Expert
Right now, GLP-1s are not banned in sports. If athletes using these weight-loss medicines see improved performance, there is concern that they could be considered another sports performance-enhancing medication. Work with a sports medicine doctor to understand these rules and what to do if they change.
Working with a sports medicine expert offers alternatives to GLP-1 medications. They’re right for some people, but they may not be the best fit for you. At Premium Sports & Orthopedics, we help you build muscle, lose weight, and get in top form for the sport you love.
When you partner with the medical staff at Premium Sports & Orthopedics, doctor-guided weight loss programs are effective and may not require you to use GLP-1 injections. If you do need these medications, your doctor will help you understand how to ensure you get the vitamins, minerals, and protein your body needs.
Go online to schedule an appointment or give us a call. We’ll discuss your options and help you get in shape and maintain your ideal competitive edge in a safe, effective way.
