Unless you haven’t had any internet access for the past year, you've likely noticed the massive uptick in Ozempic’s popularity — in headlines, on social media, and in the fitness community and culture. This is particularly true in the United States.

At first glance, this could seem like an antidote to the obesity epidemic facing the United States. Medications like Ozempic (a class of drugs called GLP-1) can aid in managing diabetes and also offer significant benefits in weight-loss.

However, as with any medication, there are risks and dangers associated — even deadly dangers. For instance, a new study shows Ozempic or Wegovy users undergoing GI procedures like endoscopies face a 33% higher risk of aspiration pneumonia, a condition where food or liquids get inhaled into the lungs, potentially leading to death. Some other commonly reported side effects have been loss of muscle mass, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and depression.

Problems can be compounded if pharmaceuticals are used outside of medical necessity (i.e., for vanity purposes, or as a shortcut in lieu of traditional weight management like lifestyle modifications and healthy habits). While some individuals have legitimate medical needs for these types of pharmacological interventions, others are looking for a shortcut in place of diet and exercise.

With the rising demand for weight-loss medication, there's a risk of overlooking individual variations in response to such medications, leading to overprescription and adverse effects. Misuse and overprescription can also cause problems for individuals who need the drug to manage type 2 diabetes, thanks to global shortages.

Regardless of the risks, millions of people are still getting prescriptions for Ozempic and similar weight-loss medications. “JPMorgan researchers estimate that 30 million people may be taking GLP-1 drugs by 2030,” reports CNN — around 9% of American adults. Given that over 10% of the American population has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and roughly 42% of the population is estimated to be obese, there could be some fundamental benefits to this type of pharmacological intervention.

Gyms are also getting in on the trend, with Life Time acquiring weight loss clinics with doctors who can prescribe weight loss drugs, according to CNN. WeightWatchers now has a membership plan with access to doctors who can prescribe GLP-1 drugs. And Equinox is designing exercise programs specifically for people taking the medications. The apps FitOn and obé have developed programs to combat muscle loss.

In the case of Equinox, a coach recently told People that some of the thinking behind this new program is that exercise is a fundamental complement to the drug, saying “Weight loss interventions should always be done with a training program to get the best results." The magazine reports that “Part of the plan is creating targeted conditioning programs to combat adverse side effects, like losing too much muscle mass.”

This part is crucial: If these drugs are prescribed in conjunction with a prescriptive exercise regimen, the fitness industry stands to benefit, and the individuals stand to benefit well beyond their pharmaceutical experience. Fitt Insider reported that “With 42% of GLP-1 users upping activity levels, the industry stands to benefit. An on-ramp to exercise, gyms could welcome entirely new clientele.”

Perhaps GLP-1 drugs could be a catalyst to get more individuals interested in fitness; the jumping-off point that helps create an overall lifestyle change. The opportunity for clubs lies in the ability to connect with new clients, build new relationships, and provide education about the benefits of an overall healthy lifestyle. This will also be the key to maintaining the loss achieved with the help of medication.

When Ravi Sharma, VP of Partnerships at Inspire360, posed the question "What impact will GLP-1 have on health clubs?," Oliver Patrick, co-founder of Future Practice, had an optimistic lens on this trend, calling it “the opportunity of a lifetime” for health clubs.

He writes “The health club industry must see these intelligent — and effective — weight loss medications as the best client acquisition tool in a generation,” he says. “The GLP-1 rise has given opportunity to a mass debate on the topic of generic weight loss versus body fat loss, with unequivocal data showing lean tissue will be lost as a part of any GLP-1 induced weight reduction.”

That point in particular is crucial to emphasize: “This discussion over body composition, above and beyond simple mass loss, places consumers firmly at the door of resistance training facilities.” In other words, your door.

“Health clubs must be quick to grasp the opportunities this loss of lean tissue presents; some have already made intelligent moves,” Patrick adds. “Whilst GLP-1 faces scarcity issues, its price and market remain more of a premium offering. Considering this premium placement, some top-tier operators are right to embed GLP-1 prescribing medical practices into their spaces and control the weight management journey A-Z.”

But it won’t be a premium-tier offering forever, he points out: “As GLP-1 prices drop, and the product democratizes, we should expect all tiers of facilities to aggressively communicate about the holistic benefits of retained muscle mass to new audiences,” Patrick says. “A rising discussion on lean tissue and longevity, disease mitigation, avoidance of frailty, and more must be driven by the fitness community.” This is where the GLP-1 acts more as a catalyst versus the end-all, be-all.

“We must make our own market,” advises Patrick. “Beyond marketing, gyms must embed consistent body composition measurements, to prove effectiveness beyond inactive weight loss. Two clients losing 20 pounds can only be distinguished if we know which tissues have been lost and which remains. Health clubs can seize an invigorated global weight loss audience if they market with new messaging, create technical capability to receive new audiences, create assessments to evaluate success, and are brave enough to align with a product many will initially deem to be a competitor. GLP-1 and its cheaper derivatives will win weight loss, we must get on the train or run the risk of being left behind in the weight management space.”

As you can see, there are significant risks that come with taking GLP-1's, but with its growing popularity, there are also opportunities for you to work with this trend to help both your clients and your business if you choose to.

—----------------------------------------------------

Industry Happenings:

Upcoming Events:

1. FitnessFest, April 25-28, 2024, Phoenix, Arizona
2. Florida Mania®, May 3-5, 2024, Orlando, Florida
3. Sibec Americas, May 19-22, 2024, Pasadena, California
4. Perform Better Functional Training Summit, May 30-June 1, 2024, Orlando, Florida
5. Miami Fit Expo, June 1, 2024, Miami, Florida
6. The Health and Well-Being Coaching Conference, June 7-9, 2024, San Diego, California
7. Beyond Activ World, June 11-13, 2024, Raffles City, Singapore

—----------------------------------------------------

Upcoming Workshops in April:

1. 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
2. 15 workshops from TRX®
3. 11 workshops from Spinning®
4. 6 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
5. 3 workshops from Mike Boyle's CFSC
6. 3 workshops from U-Jam
7. 2 workshops from FMT
8. 2 workshops from SoulBody Fitness
9. 1 workshop from Stick Mobility (May Workshop)
10. 1 workshop from Tigertail

—----------------------------------------------------

Industry News:

• IHRSA changes its name to the Health & Fitness Association.
• TRX opened a functional fitness gym in South Florida HQ.
• The recent Private Sector Benchmarking report revealed that private fitness operators have seen 10.2% growth in memberships since 2022.
• Aescape is set to launch 10 AI-powered massage tables at Equinox locations in New York City this spring.
• MZ-Open allows gym members to access the Myzone ecosystem from their Apple or Android smartwatch.
• WHOOP is now the official wearable of barre3.
• EGYM has acquired Hussle, a leading player in the UK’s corporate fitness market.
• Technogym launches Checkup, an assessment station with AI personalization.

—----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for Reading!

This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.

—----------------------------------------------------

A Note from Peter & Kathie

The industry is changing rapidly and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.

Keep Inspiring,

Peter & Kathie Davis

Want to get this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up to receive the Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter here.