Sonia Lucena, psychonutritionist, warns about Ozempic: “There is a less visible but very relevant harm for active men”

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound. It is worth starting with the names, because they are no longer unfamiliar or limited to a closed medical setting. Today they are part of the public conversation, showing up in clinics, conferences, scientific papers, and also in the fitness world.

And this should be said clearly from the outset, without softening the message: these injections are not designed to improve performance, protect muscle mass, or optimize the physique of an active man. They are not a tool for “getting lean” or a smart shortcut to looking better fast. They are medications with a specific clinical indication, and using them outside that context has consequences.

All of these drugs belong to the family of GLP-1 receptor agonists, and in some cases also GIP agonists. GLP-1 is a hormone the body naturally produces in the intestine when we eat.

Its role is to signal the brain that food is coming in, slow gastric emptying, and promote a feeling of fullness. “It is a normal physiological system, useful and perfectly well adjusted when the body is in balance,” explains Sonia Lucena, psychonutritionist and creator of the Five Method, in statements to AS.

This expert emphasizes that the problem is not GLP-1 itself, “but what happens when its effect is artificially amplified.” These drugs do not mimic a brief increase in satiety after a meal.

Instead, they keep the system continuously activated. “The result is a very strong suppression of appetite and a marked reduction in energy intake, often without the person being fully aware of how much less they are eating,” Lucena adds.

Here lies the key point that is often overlooked: they do not regulate appetite, they silence it. Hunger is not a flaw of the body or an enemy that needs to be eliminated. It is a basic signal of energy availability. “When that signal disappears, the need does not disappear with it. The body simply goes into adaptation mode,” she notes.

So how does the body adapt when it receives less energy than it needs? It saves energy, reduces expenditure, prioritizes vital functions, and starts cutting back on what it considers nonessential for short-term survival.

Muscle mass is one of the first tissues on that list, because maintaining muscle is metabolically expensive. When the body senses an energy shortage, it does not hesitate to sacrifice it.

“This is not an opinion or an ideological stance. Studies on Ozempic, Wegovy, and other similar drugs show that a significant portion of the weight lost comes from lean mass, especially when there is insufficient nutrition and no well-structured strength training,” Lucena continues. “Translated into language that men who train understand: not everything you lose is fat, and what goes away is not always what you have left over.”

Lack of energy

In practice, the pattern repeats itself. At first, the scale drops quickly, which reinforces the decision. But after a few weeks, clear signs begin to appear: less strength in the gym, poorer recovery, a constant feeling of fatigue, workouts that used to feel manageable now becoming an uphill battle.

Some men reduce loads without understanding why. Others stop training because they “have no energy.” This is not a lack of discipline. It is a lack of fuel.

When you eat very little over a sustained period, training stops being an adaptive stimulus and becomes an added stressor. Without sufficient energy, there is no muscle building, only wear and tear. Over time, muscle loss also leads to a drop in metabolism, which paradoxically increases the risk of regaining weight when the treatment is stopped.

On top of this are side effects already described in the medical literature: persistent nausea, vomiting, significant digestive problems due to slowed gastric emptying, dehydration that can compromise kidney function, and alterations in the gallbladder and pancreas.

But there is a less visible harm that is highly relevant for active men: disconnection from the body. If you do not feel hunger, if you do not know when you need to eat more to perform better, if you cannot clearly identify fatigue or poor recovery, you lose a basic tool of self-regulation.

Who might benefit from the use of Ozempic and its derivatives?

People with diagnosed clinical obesity, a high body mass index, and or associated conditions such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or high cardiovascular risk, always under medical supervision. In these cases, the primary goal is not aesthetic or athletic, but rather to reduce a significant health risk. Even then, treatment should be accompanied by appropriate nutritional intervention, adapted strength training, and professional follow-up.

What is not an optimal use is prescribing these drugs to normal-weight or slightly overweight men who are active, who train regularly, and whose goal is to look more defined or to “cut” quickly. In that context,the risk of losing muscle, strength, and performance far outweighs any apparent benefit.

In addition, these medications are not designed for indefinite use. Over time, the body adapts, the effect diminishes, appetite returns, and if there has been no real change in habits, the weight usually comes back.

The muscle that was lost, however, does not always return. If the price of losing weight is losing muscle, strength, and performance, you are not moving forward. You are moving backward, even if the scale says otherwise.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.