Noom unveils muscle fitness program for successful use of obesity drugs

22 Jan 2024 --- Digital healthcare company Noom is partnering with FitOn to launch a “Muscle Defense” addition to its recently launched Noom GLP-1 Companion. Through the extension, Noom aims to help users of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications navigate muscle mass loss — one of the crucial concerns surrounding the anti-obesity drug.

Noom underscores that GLP-1 users risk losing significant muscle mass, strength and bone density if not supported by a strong behavior change program emphasizing muscle-building exercises and a high-protein diet. This can result in lowered resting metabolic rate and worsening insulin resistance. 

“We designed Noom GLP-1 Companion with Muscle Defense to be the adjunct diet and exercise program that addresses key dangers associated with taking GLP-1s, such as loss of muscle mass,” says Geoff Cook, CEO at Noom. 

“We believe prescribing the drug without such a program carries dangers, given the amount of muscle mass people often lose while taking a GLP-1 and the fact that most people will stop taking the GLP-1 and regain the weight absent of behavior change, which can potentially lead to future conditions like sarcopenic obesity.” 

Sarcopenic obesity is characterized by a combination of obesity and sarcopenia — which is defined as low skeletal muscle mass accompanied by low muscle function. This condition is associated with a worse prognosis from chronic disease and all-cause mortality rates. 

Cook details that the Noom GLP-1 Companion with Muscle Defense provides the protein-tracking, resistance training, behavior change and expert guidance needed to have the best outcomes while taking a GLP-1. “It’s critical we do not leave people worse off than before they started the medication. Healthy habits have never mattered more.”

Fitness content 
The program is designed to help people using obesity medication through weight loss, as Cook underscores that lifestyle is critical to GLP-1 success. It ensures medication adherence and provides help with nutrition and exercise. Moreover, it helps people when they stop using the medications. 

The Muscle Defense addition to the program will begin rolling out in the spring of 2024. It will be added to the current Noom programs of users indicating they are using a weight-loss drug and all members of Noom Medical. 

The new Muscle Defense program will include a series of FitOn resistance training exercises for those clinically treated for obesity. The videos will be curated by Noom’s chief of medicine, Linda Anegawa. These exercises support combating sarcopenic obesity and the reduction of lean muscle mass. 

The addition to Noom GLP-1 Companion will help build muscle mass and set people up for a more successful long-term weight loss journey.Lindsay Cook, founder and CEO of FitOn, adds that the company aims to bridge the gap in today’s health and wellness solutions and make fitness accessible to anyone. 

“We know fitness is a critical part of long-term lifestyle changes. This partnership with Noom combines FitOn’s best-in-class fitness content with Noom’s expert nutrition tracking and guidance to help people taking GLP-1s build muscle mass and set them up for a more successful long-term weight loss journey.”

Through the partnership with FitOn, the program will provide a range of workout videos designed to help GLP-1 users build and maintain lean muscle mass, supporting a healthy metabolism and bone density. 

Muscle Defense program 
In addition to the exercise program, Noom GLP-1 Companion with Muscle Defense includes a protein-tracking tool to help prevent the loss of lean muscle by supporting members in hitting their daily protein requirements. 

Noom’s “green, yellow and orange” food color system has recently been updated, adding 200,000 protein-rich foods marked as “green” for its members. 

The program also offers expert-led guidance and content on common side effects and complications of anti-obesity medications, as well as mini-courses to drive long-term behavior change around nutrition, fitness and goal-setting to support successful tapering and off-ramping from GLP-1 drugs. 

“Patients taking control of their health through a GLP-1 treatment plan deserve to have their complex needs met after years of being misunderstood, and as risks of treatment such as sarcopenic obesity continue to complicate patient journeys,” adds Noom’s Anegawa. 

“To serve this community with the utmost care and promote better long-term living, we must meet them where they are with on-demand solutions that promote overall metabolic health, not just weight loss alone.”

Anti-obesity drugs and muscle health 
Last week, WeightWatchers flagged how food noise — constant, intrusive thoughts about food making healthy behaviors extremely difficult — is a crucial roadblock for weight management. Researchers indicate that GLP-1 medications can make losing weight more accessible by helping to reduce food noise and decrease appetite. However, they noted that a stigma around weight and using anti-obesity drugs impacts the use of these medications. 

Meanwhile, the growing use of GLP-1 medications has prompted other companies to develop products that support weight loss for patients taking the drugs. For example, Nestlé will introduce products complementary to the medication, such as supplements to help the loss of lean muscle mass and rapid weight gains after treatment. 

In addition, nutrition company Myos Corp is expanding the reach of its signature ingredient, Fortetropin, to promote muscle protein synthesis — key in maintaining and building muscle — in seniors or people using anti-obesity medications who experience muscle loss. 

By Jolanda van Hal