A new drug called apitegromab might save your posterior from the indignity of going flat, according to research published in Nature Medicine. The drug aims to combat muscle loss associated with GLP-1 obesity jabs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, which can turn your derriere into what the kids are calling 'Ozempic butt.'
Around a third of the weight lost from these medications comes from muscle rather than fat, the US research suggests. That's bad news for anyone hoping to keep their glutes in fighting shape while shedding pounds.
In a trial with 102 adults - mostly women - those who took apitegromab alongside their obesity medication maintained more muscle while still losing fat, body scans showed. Specifically, people who also received apitegromab kept around 1.9kg or 55% more muscle, or 'lean mass.' Lean mass made up 14.6% of total weight loss in the apitegromab group, compared with 30.2% in the placebo group.
Experts say more evaluation studies are needed before recommending it, because apparently one small trial doesn't count as a victory lap. Dr Marie Spreckley from Cambridge University called the findings 'encouraging early evidence' rather than definitive proof. Dr Brendan Gabriel from the University of Aberdeen noted the treatment might help some people losing muscle mass particularly fast.
People on GLP-1 drugs experience exaggerated loss of fat, muscle and tissue volume as weight quickly drops, though it's thought to be the result of rapid slimming rather than the medication itself. Unlike fat, muscle is harder to put back on quickly, which is why some users complain of a deflated or saggy bum. US plastic surgeons report a 'noticeable uptick' in consultations about it.
Currently, apitegromab is only available in clinical trials and must be given intravenously. The company that makes it is investigating whether people could self-inject it using a special injection pen - just like GLP-1 jabs. Apitegromab works by blocking a protein involved in muscle breakdown and is also being explored for spinal muscular atrophy.
Meanwhile, people on GLP-1s are already advised to eat healthily and exercise, including strength training, for their muscles. The drugs are not meant for short-term or cosmetic weight loss, though clearly people misuse them. So if you're worried about your butt going flat, maybe just do some squats and eat your protein - 20-40g per meal, the research says - while scientists figure out if apitegromab is the real deal.