Samsung has teamed up with the Massachusetts Normal Hospital (MGH) Diabetes Analysis Middle to investigate how wearables might help individuals on GLP-1 handle muscle loss. They’re particularly utilizing Galaxy Watch 8, which the corporate launched final yr, for his or her examine. Samsung says the examine will concentrate on investigating the “feasibility of managing muscle loss for GLP-1 sufferers by using biometric knowledge together with physique composition, exercise ranges and coronary heart charge offered by Galaxy Watch and Samsung Well being.”
In its announcement, the corporate has referenced a KFF poll that claims almost one in 5 adults within the US has taken a GLP-1 drug sooner or later to handle Kind 2 diabetes and to drop some pounds. With that many individuals utilizing the treatment, it is no shock that corporations like Samsung would wish to incorporate options that will serve them into their merchandise.
At this level, scientists are nonetheless determining the long-term results of utilizing GLP-1. Mayo Clinic’s David N. Brennan, M.D. stated one in every of medical doctors’ rising considerations is the lack of muscle mass. Over 30 p.c of weight reduction on the treatment will be from muscle, he wrote. And whereas it is not that totally different from the muscle loss one experiences with different weight-loss strategies, scientists are fearful that sufferers aren’t at all times regaining that muscle after they regain weight after stopping therapy.
Researchers from the College of Virginia carried out a examine into muscle loss from GLP-1 medicine and determined that it may undermine long-term well being. “This can be a severe concern. Muscle, particularly axial muscle, is important for posture, bodily perform and total well-being,” they wrote. They defined that shedding lean physique mass will increase the chance of cardiovascular illnesses, which may result in diminished high quality of life.
Samsung’s examine, which will probably be led by Dr. Melissa Putman from the MGH Diabetes Analysis Middle, will divide 100 adults simply beginning GLP-1 therapy into two teams. One group will use Galaxy Watch 8 to observe their physique composition with its Bioelectrical Impedance Evaluation (BIA), in addition to to trace their bodily exercise and to get personalised train guides to forestall the lack of muscle tissues. The opposite group will probably be given the usual steering most individuals taking GLP-1 get. Researchers will then use clinical-grade DXA scans to trace the modifications within the individuals’ physique composition. By evaluating outcomes between the 2 group, they will determine if wearables just like the Galaxy Watch 8 can successfully help individuals on the treatment.
“Many GLP-1 sufferers battle with muscle mass loss, a typical facet impact that may trigger an elevated danger of heart problems and a drop in basal metabolic charge, which might result in future weight regain,” stated Dr. Putman. “We’re all in favour of exploring how steady knowledge from a wearable system can present invaluable insights right into a affected person’s exercise ranges, coronary heart charge and physique composition, giving clinicians a extra holistic view of therapy influence and permitting for extra well timed, data-driven changes to their care plan.”
Samsung usually collaborates with academic establishments to find out how its wearables can be utilized to observe and predict well being issues. It teamed up with Stanford College final yr to enhance its sleep apnea characteristic. Extra not too long ago, it stated it found out how to predict fainting with “excessive accuracy” after working with the Chung-Ang College Gwangmyeong Hospital in Korea.
