3 min learnMight 29, 2026 05:56 PM IST
Samsung is partnering with Massachusetts Basic Hospital (MGH) to check whether or not smartwatches, such because the upcoming Galaxy Watch 8, may also help detect and cut back muscle loss related to widespread GLP-1 weight-loss medicines, similar to Ozempic and Wegovy.
The analysis challenge focuses on a rising concern surrounding GLP-1 medication: whereas they’re extremely efficient for weight reduction and diabetes administration, research recommend customers might also lose vital quantities of lean muscle mass alongside physique fats.
Researchers on the College of Virginia beforehand discovered that some sufferers taking GLP-1 medicines lose not solely fats tissue but additionally fat-free mass, together with muscle. Muscle mass performs an vital function in sustaining metabolic fee, bodily energy, skeletal well being, and long-term weight administration.
Samsung says the brand new research goals to find out whether or not wearable biometric monitoring may also help docs monitor these adjustments extra precisely and probably information sufferers towards more healthy habits that protect muscle throughout remedy.
The research will contain 100 adults divided into two teams. One group will obtain normal GLP-1 remedy and medical steering, whereas the second group can even use the Galaxy Watch 8 to trace physique composition and different well being metrics all through the programme.
Researchers will examine smartwatch-generated information with clinical-grade DXA scans, that are thought-about among the many most correct strategies for measuring physique composition and adjustments in muscle mass.
In accordance with Samsung, wearable-generated insights might ultimately assist clinicians make quicker, extra personalised remedy changes throughout weight-loss remedy.
Story continues under this advert
Dr Melissa Putman, director of the MGH Diabetes Analysis Heart, mentioned researchers are all for how wearable gadgets could present clinicians with a extra full image of how GLP-1 therapies have an effect on the physique over time.
Past muscle loss, GLP-1 medicines have additionally been linked to different uncomfortable side effects, together with nausea, digestive issues, facial quantity loss, sometimes called “Ozempic face,” and doable adjustments in style notion.
Samsung has more and more positioned its smartwatches as health-monitoring instruments somewhat than purely fitness-focused gadgets. The corporate has beforehand collaborated with researchers at Stanford College on sleep apnea detection options and has supported research involving cardiovascular monitoring and fainting detection.
The most recent analysis additionally displays a broader development within the wearable trade, the place firms are integrating medical-grade monitoring into client electronics as digital well being and AI-driven healthcare proceed to develop.
Story continues under this advert
Whereas the research doesn’t immediately change how GLP-1 medicines work, researchers hope wearable-based monitoring might assist sufferers obtain more healthy long-term outcomes throughout fast weight-loss remedy.