The Muscle Mistake Many GLP Users Don’t See Coming

The use of weight-loss GLP medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro has rapidly become accepted into mainstream culture. But, the emphasis is now turning towards what people need to do alongside significant weight loss to stay healthy in the long-term.

For the training industry, this shift has little to do with losing kilograms and everything to do with preserving muscle.

“One of the biggest changes we’re seeing is that people are no longer coming into clubs purely because they want to lose weight,” says Mannee de Wet, Managing Director of Planet Fitness. “They’re coming in because they understand that while and once the weight comes off, they need to protect and rebuild their lean muscle. It’s a very different mindset.”

The challenge is that significant weight loss often means a reduction in lean muscle as well as fat.

“Someone might lose 20 kilograms and understandably feel more energetic and confident,” explains De Wet. “But if they haven’t been preserving their muscle throughout that process, they’re not necessarily in the strongest or healthiest position they could be. This is why resistance training is so important.”

Instead of focusing exclusively on the number on the scale, trainers are increasingly encouraging members to understand what makes up their weight. Monitoring changes in body composition, including lean muscle mass alongside body fat, provides a much clearer picture of overall progress than weight alone.

This matters because muscle performs far more functions than many people realise. Lean muscle supports strength, balance, and mobility, helps regulate blood sugar, improves metabolic health, and helps people to remain independent as they age. It also plays an important role in protecting bone health, particularly for women, who become more susceptible to declining bone density after menopause.

The growing emphasis on muscle preservation is also changing the role of coaches and personal trainers. Rather than centring programmes around calorie expenditure, many are placing greater emphasis on structured resistance training, progressive strength development, and helping members build sustainable training habits.

The change is also reshaping the industry itself. According to a 2025 report, “more than 90% of industry executives interviewed believe GLPs will have a positive impact on the training industry by encouraging more people to exercise”. Rather than replacing exercise, these medications appear to be encouraging more people, particularly those who may previously have felt intimidated by traditional gym environments, to begin training for the first time.

Looking ahead, De Wet believes the training industry will become increasingly personalised in how they support members’ health journeys. While medical care will always remain the responsibility of healthcare professionals, he expects closer collaboration between medical practitioners, nutrition experts, and training specialists to become more common as consumers seek more tailored approaches to their wellbeing.

Dániel Nel, Executive Chairman and CEO at Alpha Pharm, believes the future of healthcare is changing as well. He says that medication can help people start the journey, but long-term health is built through movement, strength, and better daily habits: “The training industry will play a critical role alongside biokineticists, nutritionists, and doctors in helping people preserve and build muscle, improve metabolic health and, ultimately, live better lives. Our challenge isn’t treating illness, it’s building healthier people through an integrated ecosystem.”

“We’re moving away from one-size-fits-all wellness,” says De Wet. “People want guidance that’s specific to their own goals, lifestyle, and physiology. Training will continue to play a central role, especially when it comes to building muscle, but it will increasingly sit within a much broader ecosystem of health.”

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Author: Nhlalenhle Dlangalala from ByDesign Communications on behalf of Planet Fitness.