Millions of people taking popular weight loss jabs are starving themselves of vital nutrients, a dangerous trend only uncovered by tracking their diets with artificial intelligence.
According to a new real-world study to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity, patients using the new generation of weight loss drugs are frequently skipping meals and drastically reducing their calorie intake.
However, traditional dietary questionnaires often fail to capture the true extent of this restriction. To get an accurate picture, researchers from the IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital in Milan used an AI-powered mobile app to track the exact dietary habits of 332 adults.
The app utilised AI image recognition to analyse photos of meals and calculate the precise nutritional breakdown of food logged over a 5,741-day period. Among the participants, 116 were actively using GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide.
The missing muscle
The AI data revealed that while the drugs successfully slashed overall calorie intake, the users’ diets severely lacked the foundational building blocks required to maintain healthy muscle mass.
The analysis found that 88 per cent of GLP-1 users failed to meet the national recommendation for protein intake, consuming a critically low average of just 0.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day. The medication also drastically altered their daily routines; users were significantly more likely to skip breakfast, lunch, and dinner compared to non-users, with 40 per cent of evening meals skipped entirely.
Dr Valentina Vinelli, the study’s lead author, warned that simply losing weight on the scales is not enough if patients are simultaneously destroying their muscle health.
Dr Vinelli said: “While GLP-1 RAs produce impressive weight loss, the question of whether meaningful muscle loss accompanies fat loss with these therapies is still hotly debated. What remains universally agreed, however, is that protecting muscle mass should be a central goal of any weight-loss programme.”
Protecting long-term health
Because the medications mimic hormones that artificially increase feelings of fullness, users often struggle to consume enough food to hit their required nutrient thresholds. The researchers warned that failing to consume adequate protein and micronutrients can lead to a host of secondary medical issues, including fatigue, hair loss, a weakened immune system, and osteoporosis.
Dr Vinelli explained: “While GLP-1 RAs medications are transforming obesity care, we still know very little about how they affect eating patterns and nutrient intake. What’s more, many people taking GLP-1 RAs receive little or no systematic guidance on diet quality, protein intake, or micronutrient adequacy.”
Ultimately, the research team argued that doctors prescribing these powerful weight loss drugs need to use digital tools and AI to actively monitor their patients’ diets.
Dr Vinelli said: “Real-world GLP-1 RA use in adults with overweight or obesity is associated with widespread protein inadequacy and increased meal skipping, underscoring the urgent need for proactive nutritional monitoring and personalised dietary guidance to be integrated alongside obesity treatment to support long-term health beyond weight loss.”
