credit: FTI Consulting
Fitness trade organizations from the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Canada collaborated on a study revealing numerous benefits of an integrated care model that combines weight-loss drugs with exercise, especially strength training

Major international health and fitness organizations have joined forces to study the long-term impact exercise can have on GLP-1 users, with the findings showing optimistic results.

The white paper, which emerged from the collaboration of trade organizations including the U.S.-based Health & Fitness Association, U.K.-based ukactive, Australia-based AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand and Fitness Industry Council of Canada, finds that pairing GLP-1 therapy with regular structured exercise has multiple downstream benefits. Those include improved long-term health outcomes, reduced subsequent costs and positive economic returns across multiple countries.

The study dove into whether structured exercise can improve the long-term clinical and economic value of GLP-1 treatment by comparing the impacts of GLP-1 therapy as a standalone obesity treatment versus GLP-1 therapy combined with exercise, utilizing a health-economic model across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S.

The financial component of the study found:

  • U.K.: £2.7 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 164% return on investment, rising to 717% and £13 billion over 30 years.
  • U.S.: $120 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 496% return on investment, rising to 1,572% and $393 billion over 30 years.
  • Australia: AU$182 million in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 59% return on investment, rising to 457% and AU$1.4 billion over 30 years.
  • Canada: CA$3.5 billion in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 105% return on investment, rising to 526% and CA $17.9 billion over 30 years.
  • New Zealand: NZ$51 million in economic and societal value over 10 years and a 27% return on investment, rising to 306% and NZ$592 million over 30 years.

Meanwhile, the addition of structured exercise to a GLP-1 treatment plan had numerous positive health impacts, including:

  • Preserving muscle during weight loss
  • Maintaining strength, mobility and bone health
  • Keeping more weight off over time
  • Reducing weight regain after stopping medication
  • Lowering the risk of costly health events later on.

Additionally, the paper highlighted a reduction in acute cardiovascular events and joint replacements; improved patient longevity and quality of life; and reduced spending on medical costs and productivity losses.

Based on those results, the bodies are once again urging for the deeper integration of physical activity and strength training in GLP-1 treatment, after releasing a statement earlier this year calling on governments, health systems and international institutions to ensure that as drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy continue to dominate obesity treatment, they’re supported by lifestyle interventions including physical activity and nutrition.

“GLP-1 medications are rapidly changing obesity treatment, but weight loss alone is not the full measure of success,” said HFA president and interim CEO Greta Wagner. 

From those results, the bodies have come up with a plan for how best to implement fitness-forward practices into a systemic treatment plan for GLP-1 users. They propose the following roadmap for policymakers, payers and healthcare systems:

  1. Recognise structured exercise, especially strength training, as an essential part of obesity care
  2. Embed exercise support into GLP-1 care models
  3. Build referral pathways between healthcare providers and qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities
  4. Support patient access to qualified exercise professionals and fitness facilities
  5. Measure outcomes beyond weight loss, including long-term health and economic value.

The organizations also suggested policy shifts such as reimbursement, coverage, tax-preferred treatment or subsidy models that lower financial barriers to structured exercise for GLP-1 users, making exercise more widely recognized as a crucial component of GLP-1 therapy.

“The health and fitness industry has long known that lasting wellness requires more than a number on a scale, it requires strength, function and sustainable healthy life habits,” Wagner added. “This research confirms that exercise, especially strength training, helps patients sustain the benefits of GLP-1 treatment over time. It sends a clear message that exercise belongs at the center of GLP-1 care.”

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