2024 IDEA & ACSM Summit experts share how fitness professionals can leverage the synergy of weight loss drugs and exercise programs
On the front lines of the fight against obesity, a panel of exercise physiology and weight management experts held sessions and GLP- We investigated the integration of 1 drug into exercise. programming.
The session “Understanding Modern Anti-Obesity Drugs and the Role of Exercise Professionals” will highlight the synergistic relationship between GLP-1 pharmacotherapy and exercise for weight management, and will highlight the synergistic relationship between GLP-1 pharmacotherapy and exercise for weight management, and how fitness professionals are receiving obesity treatment. We explored the challenges faced when working with clients. Anti-obesity agent.
GLP-1 and programming considerations
Presented by John Jakich, Ph.D., Robert Kushner, MD, and Renee Rogers, Ph.D., this session provided a multifaceted perspective on the complexities surrounding GLP-1 therapeutics and their impact on fitness professionals. Panelists emphasized that these drugs are not indicated for moderate weight loss.
Kushner, a veteran obesity physician and medical director of Northwestern Medicine Lifestyle Medicine Center in Chicago, said anti-obesity drugs are “very effective in treating obesity” and can help control appetite. Ta.
He stressed that these drugs should be used under medical supervision and are intended as part of a comprehensive weight management plan that includes diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy.
As people lose weight with new anti-obesity drugs, concerns have been raised that a significant portion of that weight may be lean body mass, especially those who mistakenly believe that lean body mass is muscle mass. There are some too.
Jakich, a research professor in the Department of Internal Medicine in the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management at the University of Kansas Medical Center, said it’s important to clarify that changes in lean body mass do not necessarily reflect changes in muscle mass. Ta. He said that muscle is just one component of lean body mass, and that muscle mass is not currently measured in any studies, but suggested that it is currently being studied.
Health and fitness experts should be wary of claiming that programming can prevent or reduce loss of lean body mass and muscle mass in clients taking anti-obesity drugs, Jakicic said. He says it should be done.
GLP-1 and behavioral changes
Rogers, a senior scientist at the University of Kansas Medical Center and chair of ACSM’s Strategic Health Initiative on Behavioral Strategies, said he believes people taking anti-obesity drugs face challenges, including self-efficacy (confidence) issues. drew attention to the behavioral barriers to doing so. She emphasized the need for fitness professionals to create an inclusive environment that prioritizes personal health goals over weight-centered programs.
“By fostering partnerships with prescribing health care providers, fitness professionals can play a vital role in supporting their clients on their weight loss journeys,” Rogers said.
A key point of Rogers’ research that she touched on during the session was that many people experience direct and indirect bias from fitness and other health professionals regarding the use of these drugs, and because of this, It was said that some people were discouraged from seeking support for the movement.
“This creates an opportunity for the fitness industry to create a welcoming and inclusive space,” she said, adding that client-centered programming, rather than method-centered programming where a client’s personal health goals are more important than weight loss, she said. The emphasis was on programming.
“This is also an important time to build partnerships with health care providers who prescribe these drugs so that patients can incorporate exercise and physical activity into their treatment plans,” she said, adding that the goal is to help bariatric teams. He added that his goal is to become a reliable member of the organization.
The future of GLP-1 in fitness
Given the continuing obesity epidemic and increasing adoption of GLP-1 drugs as a treatment, insights gleaned from a panel at the 2024 IDEA and ACSM Health & Fitness Summit show that GLP-1 use will affect the future of
Rogers said most clinicians who prescribe these drugs can only encourage patients to exercise, but fitness professionals are the ones who can make this a reality.
“This means understanding how these effective medications work and how to properly prescribe them, staying on top of the science of obesity care, and accepting clients who choose to take these medications. She said, adding that fitness professionals are a “special sauce” and they make sure their clients feel happy about moving their bodies and feel comfortable and safe when starting a new program. We have the skills and knowledge to help you create health-related goals that go beyond what you feel and what happens to the number on the scale. ”
The 2024 IDEA & ACSM Health & Fitness Summit panel was part of a larger event that combined the IDEA Personal Trainer Institute and ACSM Health & Fitness Summit into a reimagined new conference. ACSM’s 2024 Annual Meeting will be held in Boston from May 28-31, and the 2024 IDEA World will be held in Los Angeles from July 10-14.