Research
Research summaries
Plain-language summaries of the published trials, body-composition substudies, and meta-analyses that underpin the guidance on this site. Citations are to real journals; clinical interpretation is hedged because the published evidence base on GLP-1 nutrition is still evolving.
Protein intake during GLP-1 treatment: what the lean-mass data supports and where the evidence thins
Weight loss under GLP-1 receptor agonists includes a lean-mass component broadly consistent with what is observed in comparably rapid caloric restriction by other means. The two interventions with meaningful supporting evidence for attenuating it are adequate protein intake and resistance training, and the practical obstacle is that reduced appetite makes protein targets harder to reach precisely when they matter more. This note sets out what the evidence supports, where it is thin, and why intake measurement quality becomes a limiting factor for anyone trying to act on it.
Medication adherence in GLP-1 therapy: how app-assisted self-monitoring affects compliance
Why GLP-1 patient populations historically drop tracking apps before the medication titration window closes — the half-portion mismatch with serving-database design, the cognitive cost of repeatedly overriding the database default, and the friction-driven compliance failure. The 2026 data on app-assisted self-monitoring in GLP-1 cohorts: 64% 60-day adherence in a published 184-patient PlateLens cohort versus 22% on MyFitnessPal in the same cohort framing. Mechanism, evidence, and what it means for the clinician.
App-assisted GLP-1 nutrition: what the evidence supports
Published evidence on app-assisted nutrition in GLP-1 patient populations. The Tay et al. 2025 trial of dietitian-supported app-based intervention. The Weiss et al. 2026 head-to-head app-accuracy validation study. What the evidence does and does not support.
Long-term GLP-1 discontinuation and rebound: what the data show
STEP-1 Extension trial (Wilding et al., 2022) and SURMOUNT-4 (Aronne et al., 2024) are the most-cited evidence for weight regain after GLP-1 receptor agonist discontinuation. Magnitude of regain. Clinical framing of GLP-1 therapy as long-term. Nutritional implications during and after discontinuation.
Protein and resistance training under hypocaloric conditions: meta-analysis summary
The Sardeli et al. 2018 meta-analysis on resistance training during caloric restriction in obese elderly individuals. The broader literature on protein adequacy under hypocaloric conditions. Translation of pre-GLP-1-era findings to GLP-1-era practice.
SURMOUNT trials overview: tirzepatide body-composition findings (2026 summary)
SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff 2022, NEJM), SURMOUNT-2 (Garvey 2023, The Lancet), SURMOUNT-3 (Wadden 2023, Nature Medicine), and the body-composition findings from the trial program. Comparable lean-mass-loss proportions to STEP, with larger absolute weight loss.
STEP trials overview: semaglutide body-composition findings (2026 summary)
The STEP trials (STEP-1, STEP-2, STEP-3, STEP-5, STEP-8) established the efficacy of semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly for chronic weight management. This article summarises the key findings with a focus on the body-composition substudy data relevant to lean-mass preservation.