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The organization is providing trainers with information and education for how to coach clients taking the weight-loss medications.
Courtesy of ISSA
Weight loss is just one aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years, GLP-1s have been effective at helping people reduce body fat, especially people who have struggled with their weight their entire lives. AS GLP-1s continue to rise in popularity, the weight-loss industry is adapting to address the new opportunities that people struggling with their weight have to improve their physical health.
GLP-1s are effective for weight loss because they reduce the user’s appetite, which generally results in a reduction in caloric intake. While this is generally good practice for weight loss, people will see the best results when they pair healthy eating habits with a balanced exercise routine.
The International Sports Science Association (ISSA) announced a new training package designed specifically for people taking GLP-1s for weight loss.1 The GLP-1 Wight Loss Support Training programed is aimed at providing trainers and coaches with the appropriate education and tools to effectively train clients who are taking medications like Ozempic or Wegovy. The program provides information about physical fitness, along with guidance for providing support for the emotional and behavioral impacts of the medications.
In a press release, the ISSA’s chief operating officer Natalie Mayslich said, “The weight loss landscape is changing dramatically, and trainers need more than science––they need strategies to best help their clients succeed. Our new GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training course empowers fitness and health coach professionals to stay within scope while becoming trusted allies in client transformation."
Brooke Jeffries, MS, CN, NBC-HWC, is director of the Health Coach Institute’s pathway program, which is powered by ISSA. In the same press release, she said, “GLP-1 medications can be valuable tools, but true, lasting transformation requires more than a prescription. Health coaches and personal trainers are indispensable in helping clients make the behavioral and mindset shifts necessary to maintain their progress. By addressing nutrition, physical activity, emotional eating, and body image, coaches guide clients toward a healthier, more sustainable approach to weight management."
She continued, “This course isn't just about understanding the medications—it's about becoming a compassionate, confident, and trusted ally in clients' health journeys. By mastering these specialized skills, fitness and health professionals can stand out in a competitive market while making a profound difference in their clients' lives."
While they are highly popular, GLP-1s are still relatively new medications in the weight-loss space. As such, the industry is still studying them to find the best uses for them.
According to a recent study, it’s possible that GLP-1s may still be effective for weight-loss at significantly lower doses than the typical American is prescribed.2 According to digital weight care company Embla, a study involving 2,700 adults showed that they lost 16.7% of their body weight while taking only about two-thirds of the average dosage in the United States.
In a press release, Embla’s co-founder and co-CEO Nicholas Syhler said, “GLP-1s are powerful tools, but the tools too often become the treatment. When care is designed around the drug, doses are pushed higher by default. But when care is designed around the patient, lower doses often prove sufficient. Our landmark study confirms that patients can achieve strong outcomes with less medication and underscores the urgency for a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to obesity care. It's time to rethink how we define effective care."
In the same press release, the company’s other co-founder and co-CEO Laust Wilster Axelsen added, “GLP-1s have created a wave of opportunity, but also a wave of confusion, especially in markets like the U.S. where cost, access, and care delivery often pull in different directions. Employers, clinicians, and patients all want better outcomes, but they also want predictability, safety, and a sense of control. Our model is built to deliver that with a clinical framework that supports tapering, reinforces behavior change and makes results more sustainable."
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