Doctor reveals how ‘speedy’ weight reduction jab can impression bones and the best way to forestall harm
Doctor Karan Rajan has warned that rapid weight loss from any method, including weight loss jabs, can affect bone density – but there are steps you can take to protect yourself
A doctor issued some advice about weight loss jabs(Image: Getty)
A doctor has issued a stark warning about the use of weight loss injections, cautioning that they can lead to a decrease in bone density. These medications, also known as GLP-1 inhibitors, work by using GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), a hormone produced in the gut that helps control blood sugar and appetite.
The popularity of GLP-1 inhibitors has skyrocketed in recent years due to their effectiveness in managing blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and assisting with weight loss. Available in injection form, some of these drugs can be prescribed through the NHS for those who qualify.
However, like all medicines, they can cause unwanted side effects. Doctor Karan Rajan, better known as Dr Raj, elaborated on this issue in a TikTok video.
Dr Raj warned: “If you’re on a GLP-1, you can lose bone density.” He was quick to point out, though, that this can happen with any type of weight loss, reports Wales Online. He added: “But any weight loss can cause that.
“There’s no plausible biological mechanism by which semaglutide, tirzepatide, or any GLP-1 medication directly contributes to bone loss or activates osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone, or blocks osteoblasts, the cells that build bone.”
He continued to explain: “GLP-1 receptors exist in bone tissue. And in pre-clinical studies, GP-1s appear to have neutral or even protective benefits.”
Shedding pounds “very quickly” through any method can impact your bones, he warned. “Rapid weight loss from any cause can lead to a greater bone density loss,” he added.
“When you lose weight very quickly, you lose fat and lean mass, and that includes muscle. And your bones adapt to the mechanical load placed on them.
“Less body weight equals less load, which equals a reduced stimulus for bone maintenance.” Consequently, bone density decline can happen after bariatric surgery and extreme dieting, as well as GLP-1s “if you don’t build the lifestyle foundational habits”.
He cited a scientific study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2024, which examined patients taking tirzepatide, one type of GLP-1 inhibitor, over 72 weeks. Dr Raj said: “They found small decreases in bone mineral density, around one to two per cent at the hip, but this is consistent with what we see in equivalent weight loss with any method.
“The weight loss, not the drug itself, explains the bone changes.”
How to prevent this
However, there are measures you can adopt to safeguard your bone health, he outlined. Dr Raj said: “But you can protect your bones on any weight loss period, including GLP-1s.
“Lift weights to put mechanical load on the bones. The mechanical load stimulates osteoblasts through mechanotransduction.
“Aim for adequate protein on a calorie deficit, around 1.6 grams per kilo. Protein supports the muscle and bone matrix. Impact stimulus, like walking, jumping, running.
“And try to avoid losing more than one per cent of your body weight per week.” He further stated: “Slower weight loss preserves muscle and bone.”
This guidance was backed up by the results of the aforementioned study. The authors of the study observed: “These findings suggest that the addition of exercise to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment is an effective weight loss strategy while preserving bone health.”
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