On a GLP-1 in Hudson, OH? A quarter or more of the weight you lose can be lean mass. A physician explains how to protect your muscle while you lose fat.
GLP-1 medications have changed weight loss. Patients in Hudson, Stow, Twinsburg, Aurora and across Summit County are losing weight that never moved before. And starting July 2026, Medicare began covering select GLP-1 medications for eligible patients at $50 a month, so even more people are starting treatment.
But there’s a question the bathroom scale can’t answer: what kind of weight are you losing?
Picture two patients who each lose 20 pounds on a GLP-1. One loses mostly fat. The other loses a lot of muscle along with it. The scale calls both a success. Their bodies don’t.
The one who lost muscle may feel weaker, burn fewer calories at rest and have a harder time keeping the weight off. For adults over 60, losing muscle is also linked to falls, fractures and loss of independence.
In large clinical trials that measured body composition with DXA scans, lean mass made up roughly a quarter to about 40% of the total weight people lost, depending on the medication. Lean mass includes muscle along with water and organ tissue, so not all of it is muscle. Still, it’s a big enough share that it deserves a plan.
This isn’t a reason to avoid GLP-1 medication. For many people, losing excess fat is one of the best things they can do for their heart, joints, blood sugar and kidneys. It’s a reason to lose weight the right way.
At Serene Med Spa in Hudson, our medical weight loss program is physician-led. Your plan is built around your health history, your labs and your goals, and it includes the muscle-protecting basics above, not just a prescription.
For patients who want extra help firming and strengthening as they slim down, our Hudson office also offers EMSCULPT NEO. It combines radiofrequency heating with high-intensity electromagnetic muscle contractions. It is FDA-cleared to strengthen and tone the abdomen, buttocks, arms, thighs and calves. It’s a complement to strength training, not a replacement. It hasn’t been clinically tested right after rapid weight loss, so we’ll help you decide when it makes sense in your plan. Sessions are $400, or 4 for $1,500.
See our full pricing. The medical weight loss visit is $149 a month, and medication is billed separately.
Any significant weight loss includes some lean mass, and GLP-1 trials showed a meaningful share of weight lost was lean mass. Eating enough protein, strength training and physician follow-up can help you hold on to more muscle.
Many experts suggest 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day during active weight loss. People with kidney disease or other conditions should set their target with their physician.
Through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program (July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027), eligible patients with a Part D or Medicare Advantage plan can get select GLP-1 medications for $50 a month. Eligibility depends on BMI and certain health conditions, and a prior authorization is required.
No. It’s designed to complement exercise by strengthening and toning specific areas. Regular strength training is still the foundation for keeping muscle.
Serene Med Spa is at 50 W Streetsboro St, Suite 2, Hudson, OH, serving Hudson, Stow, Twinsburg, Aurora, Solon, Cuyahoga Falls and Akron. Book a consultation to build a weight loss plan that protects your strength.
Sources: CMS; National Council on Aging; Healio, “Muscle matters” (2025).
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. GLP-1 medications and EMSCULPT NEO are provided only after consultation and evaluation by a licensed provider. Individual results vary.
Medicare now covers select GLP-1 medications for weight loss at $50 a month. Here’s who qualifies, how the program works, and why protecting muscle matters most for adults 65 and older.