For decades, the fitness industry focused largely on helping people lose weight. The growing use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro is now changing how gyms and personal trainers approach that goal.
Fitness coaches in Dubai say they are seeing a growing number of clients taking the medications, prompting a shift away from weight loss alone. Trainers are placing greater emphasis on preserving muscle, improving body composition and supporting long-term health.
Sarah Lindsay, founder of Roar Fitness and a three-time Olympian, said the priorities for clients using GLP-1 drugs are significantly different from those of traditional weight-loss programmes.
“A few years ago, the priority with most new clients was fat loss. Now, with a GLP-1 client, the priority flips almost entirely to muscle preservation and strength,” she said.
Rather than focusing only on calorie-burning exercises, trainers are increasingly assessing clients’ appetite, energy levels and responses to medication before designing individual programmes.
“The medication suppresses appetite; it doesn’t build a stronger body,” Lindsay said. “Without resistance training, a real portion of the weight lost is muscle, not fat.”
She said protein intake and recovery have also become more important as many people taking the drugs consume fewer calories.
Strength training is now considered essential for many GLP-1 users, as rapid weight loss can result in the loss of lean muscle as well as fat. Maintaining muscle is important for strength, metabolism, bone health and physical function, experts say.
Lindsay added that demand for specialist coaching has increased in Dubai, with clients seeking help to maintain muscle while losing weight. The trend is also influencing the premium fitness sector, where personalised coaching is becoming more important than standard gym memberships.
Medical experts say GLP-1 medications have transformed obesity treatment but should be used under medical supervision and alongside lifestyle changes.
Dr Kingini Bhadran, a specialist endocrinologist at Aster Clinic in Qusais, said the medications had helped establish obesity as a chronic medical condition requiring more than lifestyle advice alone.
She warned, however, that inadequate protein intake and a lack of strength training could increase the risk of muscle loss. She recommends sufficient protein, resistance training two to three times a week and regular medical monitoring.
Both experts also raised concerns about cosmetic use of GLP-1 drugs by people who may not meet medical criteria.
Lindsay said the biggest misconception was believing the medication did all the work, while Dr Bhadran warned that inappropriate use could lead to side effects, nutritional deficiencies and muscle loss.
The changing approach in Dubai’s fitness industry reflects a broader shift in how weight management is viewed, with long-term strength and health increasingly placed alongside the number on the scales.
