JJ Virgin explains how GLP-1 drugs suppress appetite by shutting down food noise, but warns they accelerate muscle loss alongside fat loss unless you eat enough protein. Without adequate protein in a caloric deficit, your body breaks down muscle tissue to meet its needs.
One of the ways that GLP-1s work is by shutting down the food noise and suppressing your appetite. But this benefit can become a risk very quickly. You're not just losing fat, you're also losing muscle. When people hear GLP-1 means more protein, what they're really asking is, why does protein suddenly matter more if I'm eating less? By the way, this goes for any poorly designed diet. There's very strong data showing that when people are in a caloric deficit, higher protein intake is what protects lean mass. If you're not giving it enough protein, your body can start breaking down muscle tissue to meet those needs. And that is where the real problem begins.
