GLP-1s: WHAT THEY DO — AND WHAT THEY DON’T

Clinical Perspective

GLP-1 medications have changed the conversation around weight and metabolic health. Clinically, they work by reducing appetite and improving glycemic control. For many patients, this can create meaningful momentum early on.

What these medications do not do, however, is preserve muscle or protect long-term metabolic function on their own. Without appropriate support, rapid weight loss can quietly deplete lean tissue, strain nutrient reserves, and slow the very systems responsible for sustained energy and resilience.

Muscle loss is one of the most common—and least discussed—consequences of unmanaged weight reduction. When muscle declines, fatigue increases, skin quality can suffer, and metabolic efficiency often decreases. The scale may move, but physiology becomes less stable.

At Terrane, we view GLP-1s as tools, not plans. Their role is supportive, not standalone. Long-term success depends on pairing medication with adequate protein intake, resistance training, and targeted micronutrient support—along with careful monitoring of body composition, not just weight.

Sustainable change requires strategy. When metabolic health is protected, outcomes tend to be steadier, skin quality more resilient, and results far more durable over time.

Medications can assist the process.
They cannot replace it.