GLP-1s Are Changing More Than the Scale
This post is a message for fellow fitness professionals, but I’m sharing it here because if you’re using GLP-1 medications, I want you to know how seriously I take your experience. You deserve to work with someone who understands what you’re going through and who’s pushing the industry to do better.
If you’ve only been thinking of GLP-1 medications as “weight loss drugs,” you’re missing the bigger story and the real opportunity to lead and support a group in your community who may need it most.
These medications are reshaping far more than body size. They’re shifting industries, changing consumer behavior, and opening the door to entirely new types of fitness clients.
People on these medications are moving differently, eating differently, and, maybe for the first time, walking into a gym. Here’s what you need to know to make it your gym, because if you train them like everyone else, you’ll lose them.
First, What Are GLP-1s?
They’re not just weight loss drugs. GLP-1s, like Ozempic, were developed to manage type 2 diabetes. They mimic a natural hormone your body releases when you eat, helping regulate blood sugar, slow digestion, reduce cravings, and signal fullness to your brain.
Many users also report thinking about food less often, which can make it easier to break out of old eating habits.
So, as people began losing weight and improving their overall health, these medications quickly gained popularity. And now, we’re seeing their effects ripple across nearly every part of life, from fitness to food to healthcare.
How GLP-1s Are Quietly Reshaping the World
Food & Restaurants Are Already Shifting
People on GLP-1s tend to eat less, and not just less junk food. They snack less, order smaller meals, and skip the drive-thru more often. Big players like Walmart are already tracking these shifts. Restaurants are starting to adapt with more protein and smaller plates.
What this means for fitness pros: Your clients’ eating habits may change without you needing to “coach” them about calorie deficits. This is your chance to help them build strength-focused habits and educate them about nutrition rather than obsessing over food.
Healthcare Demand Is Changing
As people lose weight and manage type 2 diabetes, kidney issues, or sleep apnea, they’re using fewer medical devices and medications. That’s changing revenue models in pharma, and potentially freeing people up to spend more on self-care, wellness, fitness, and movement.
What this means for fitness pros: Expect more clients to feel better, move better, and be ready to train sooner. You might be working with someone who’s never exercised before, but is finally able to. This is a win-win for them and your gym.
Mental Health and Cravings Are Improving
Early data shows promise for addiction treatment, improved emotional regulation, and even cognitive health. That translates to clearer minds, less self-destructive behavior, and more mental and physical energy for progress.
GLP-1s may help reduce cravings, not just for food, but for alcohol and other substances. They’re even being explored for things like Alzheimer’s.
What this means for fitness pros: You may notice clients breaking out of old cycles, quitting binge eating, reducing their alcohol consumption, and feeling more emotionally stable. Your training sessions can help anchor those changes.
Even Insurance Is Taking Notice
As more people improve their health, industries beyond wellness are starting to shift, including insurance. Longer life expectancy and fewer chronic conditions could lead to lower life insurance premiums and new ways companies plan for risk.
What this means for fitness pros: That’s how far-reaching these changes are. When you help someone move better and stay stronger, you’re not just supporting their fitness; you’re part of a much bigger chain reaction that affects their whole life (and yours, too).
Productivity and Lifestyle Are Rising
GLP-1 users often report better sleep, take fewer sick days, and have more energy. That means more people showing up to work and showing up for themselves. More income and motivation also mean they have more to invest in themselves, whether that’s travel, new experiences, a gym membership, or finally hiring a trainer.
What this means for fitness pros: These clients don’t necessarily want to “lose weight,” the medication is already handling that. They want to perform better in life. They want to get stronger, have better posture, more energy, and less pain. That’s where you come in.
What This Means for the Entire Fitness Industry
This new wave of clients isn’t coming to you with gym habits or fitness literacy. They’re coming with fear, uncertainty, and years of being ignored, or worse, humiliated by the industry.
And if your only gear is intensity, you’re not ready for them.
Here’s what you can do to adapt:
Stop Commanding. Start Coaching.
These clients don’t need to be barked at. They need to be taught how to move, how to breathe, how to feel their muscles working, because many of them have never been given that education.
Ditch the “One-Size-Fits-All” Approach
Your fit, motivated client who trains five times a week is not the same as the woman walking in after GLP-1 treatment, having lost 80 pounds or more, and having no idea how to stabilize her knees in a squat. Adapt or they won’t come back.
Not All “Deconditioned Clients” Are the Same
In the fitness industry, we tend to group anyone who’s been sedentary as “deconditioned.” But GLP-1 clients break that mold because they’re not just new to exercise, they’re adjusting to an entirely different body. This makes their experience totally different from the typical deconditioned client gyms are used to coaching. Many have just lost a dramatic amount of weight in a short period of time. Their bodies feel foreign. Their nervous system hasn’t caught up. They’re dealing with joint instability, postural shifts, and a brand-new relationship with food, movement, and identity, all at once. They may look ready to train, but mentally, they’re still recalibrating. You can’t just plug them into your beginner programming and expect it to stick. You have to slow it down, meet them with patience, and teach from the ground up.
Speak Human, Not Fitness
Skip the technical jargon. They know you’re an experienced professional, so you don’t need to prove yourself. Say what you mean in a way that’s clear, supportive, and empowering. Cue with intention. Explain the “why.” Explain how it should feel and which parts of their body should feel it. That’s how you build trust and adherence.
Make It a Place They Want to Come Back To
If every session feels like punishment, they won’t return. Make it a space where success is defined by how they feel and what they learn, not just by how hard they push. These clients are used to shame. Your job is to create safety, strength, and progress without the drill-sergeant energy.
GLP-1s Are a Wake-Up Call for the Industry
Whether you like GLP-1s or agree with them isn’t the point. That’s not your job. Your job is to help people feel better, get healthier, and improve their lives. So, the question is, are you willing to evolve as a trainer to serve the people who finally feel ready to train?
You don’t get to change lives unless they stick around long enough to learn. And they won’t stick around unless you meet them with respect, education, and a plan that works for their body, not old protocols.
GLP‑1s Aren’t Going Anywhere… And That’s a Good Thing
GLP-1s are doing way more than just shrinking waistlines; they’re helping people return to movement, easing pain, building confidence, and igniting the spark to train. And this isn’t a passing fad, it’s the start of a new era.
Studies and industry insight show the GLP‑1 class is expanding fast1… and innovating even faster. Already approved in injectable and oral forms Rybelsus), and soon, we may see inhalable, transdermal, and longer-lasting formulations in the next wave2. That means this isn’t short-term. It’s becoming a healthcare foundation.
But as we all know, weight loss doesn’t automatically bring strength, control, or mobility. That’s where your expertise comes in. The meds do part of the work, now it’s time we step up and do ours.
This is your moment to help GLP‑1 users rebuild, not just shrink, their bodies. Let’s meet this shift head-on, like the excellent leaders we are.
If you’re a gym owner or trainer who wants help educating your staff on how to serve GLP-1 clients better, reach out. I’d love to help you out.
Resources
- Roots Analysis Business Research & Consulting https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/glp-1-market.html.html ↩︎
- GoodRx 5 GLP-1 Trends to Expect in 2025: Expanded Uses, Generics, Oral Options, and More https://www.goodrx.com/classes/glp-1-agonists/glp-1-trends ↩︎
Based on analysis from Teneo, a leading global advisory firm that works with healthcare and insurance industries, GLP-1s are already influencing not just wellness, but wider systems like insurance planning.
Many of the insights in this article were inspired by research from Teneo’s report on the multi-sector impacts of GLP-1 drugs. You can read the full piece here.
Photo Credits
Cracked Glass Weighing Scale by A’s Images
Trainer photo by LandysChemist from pixabay
This article is for educational purposes and is not intended to replace medical consultation. Always consult a healthcare professional before making health-related decisions.
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