Why GLP-1 Medications Are Suddenly Everywhere in Dubai

Weight-loss medications built around GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide and tirzepatide among them, have gone from a niche prescription to one of the most talked-about health trends in the UAE. Weight-loss clinics across Dubai report growing demand, and I now regularly see patients who are either already on one of these medications or seriously considering starting one. The results on the scale can be genuinely impressive. What gets discussed far less is what these medications do to muscle, and why that matters for how a person actually feels and functions once the weight comes off.

The Research Behind “Ozempic Muscle”

The large clinical trials that led to approval of these medications also measured what kind of weight was actually being lost. In the semaglutide STEP-1 trial, roughly 40 percent of total weight lost was lean mass rather than fat. In the tirzepatide SURMOUNT-1 trial, the figure was closer to 25 percent. That is a substantial amount of muscle disappearing alongside the fat that people are actively trying to lose, and it happens quietly, without any symptom that clearly signals it in the way rapid fat loss does.

This matters more for some people than others. Older adults, anyone who was already relatively sedentary before starting treatment, and people with early signs of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) carry the highest risk of losing functional strength rather than simply becoming a smaller version of themselves.

Why This Often Goes Unnoticed Until It Doesn't

Because appetite suppression makes the weight loss itself feel effortless, muscle loss can progress for months before it shows up as something a person actually notices, struggling more to get up from a low chair, tiring faster on stairs, a grip that feels weaker than it used to, or looking slimmer in clothes but feeling less capable physically than before. By the time it is noticeable, a meaningful amount of strength has often already gone.

The number on the scale does not tell you whether you are getting healthier or simply getting smaller. Preserving muscle is what determines whether weight loss actually translates into better physical function.

Why Physiotherapy Has a Role Here

This is fundamentally a movement and muscle-preservation problem, which places it squarely in physiotherapy's territory. A physiotherapist can establish a genuine baseline of your current strength and functional capacity before significant lean mass loss occurs, then build a resistance training programme specifically designed to give your body a reason to keep the muscle it has, rather than a generic gym routine borrowed from someone with a different goal.

Rapid weight loss can also change how a person moves. Altered body proportions, temporarily reduced strength around the hips and knees, and in some cases looser skin around joints can subtly affect balance and gait, particularly in older adults. A physiotherapy assessment picks up on these changes early, before they contribute to a fall or an overuse injury from compensating for a joint that is not being supported the way it used to be.

What an Effective Approach Actually Looks Like

  • Resistance training, not just cardio: Structured strength work targeting the major muscle groups, two to three times per week, is the single most evidence-backed way to preserve lean mass during weight loss.
  • Progressive overload: The load needs to increase gradually over time as strength improves, rather than staying static, for the muscle to have a genuine reason to be maintained.
  • Compound movements first: Squats, hip hinges, presses, and rows recruit more muscle mass per session than isolated exercises, which matters when appetite and available energy may both be reduced.
  • Tracking strength, not only weight: A simple log of what you can lift, or how many controlled reps you can perform, tells you far more about whether you are protecting muscle than the scale does.
  • Adequate protein intake spread across the day: This sits primarily with a doctor or dietitian, but it works hand in hand with resistance training, and it is worth raising directly with whoever is managing your medication.

Who Should Be Especially Mindful

Anyone starting a GLP-1 medication benefits from thinking about muscle preservation from day one rather than after strength has already declined, but it matters most for people over 50, anyone with a prior injury or joint condition, and anyone who was not doing any regular strength training before starting the medication. These groups have the least muscle reserve to lose from before function is affected.

When to Seek a Physiotherapy Assessment

If you have started noticing that everyday tasks, climbing stairs, carrying groceries, getting up from the floor, feel harder than they did before you began losing weight, that is a meaningful signal worth acting on rather than dismissing as simply part of the process. A baseline strength and movement assessment early in your treatment is far more useful than trying to rebuild lost muscle later.

If you are currently on a GLP-1 medication, considering starting one, or already noticing changes in your strength or balance, and would like a structured resistance programme built around your specific situation, book a consultation with Dr. Smruti Rathod.