Healthy weight management for a body in balance
Weight management is about far more than losing kilos of body mass. Achieving a healthy weight relies on developing a balanced body composition, where the ratio of body fat to fat-free mass is within an optimal range.
Individuals with a balanced body composition are most likely to have good mobility, vitality and quality of life. Excessive deposits of body fat, on the other hand, bring a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and sarcopenia – each with severe, long-term consequences1 for health.
Protecting muscles through weight loss
This is why weight loss strategies must both support individuals in reaching and maintaining their target weight – and help preserve and maintain lean muscle.
Representing a significant part of the body’s fat-free mass, muscle plays a key role in human health overall. In addition to enabling movement, muscle helps regulate blood sugar and energy expenditure 2-4.
Studies show that a certain amount of lean muscle is lost regardless of the weight loss intervention. Today’s anti-obesity medications (AOMs) such as GLP-1 receptor agonists have a particular impact, in this respect, with muscle accounting for up to 40% of total weight loss3.
The impact of nutrition on body composition
With the right nutrition, it’s possible to influence body composition, whether the goal is to maintain or increase muscles or reduce fat deposits.
A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that a high protein diet can support weight management by increasing the fat-free mass component of the fat-free to body fat ratio5. Dairy calcium is another potentially beneficial nutritional compound that can be used in weight management6.
Whey protein for targeted weight management
Whey proteins are a high-quality source of all the essential amino acids (EAA) needed by the human body. Compared to other protein sources, whey proteins provide a higher proportion of the EAA and, in particular, the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) known to stimulate muscle synthesis. In addition whey proteins are easily digested and absorbed by the human body.
During weight loss, whey protein helps reduce body weight, waist circumference and fat mass while preserving lean body mass7. The high nutrient density makes whey protein especially ideal for AOM users with a restricted appetite, ensuring their daily protein needs are met.
Find out more
For more information about our weight management solutions and application opportunities, visit our solution pages:
References:
1. Kokura Y, Ueshima J, Saino Y, Maeda K. Enhanced protein intake on maintaining muscle mass, strength, and physical function in adults with overweight/obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 2024; 63, 417-426, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.06.030.
2. Prado C, Phillips S, Gonzalez M et al. Muscle matters: the effects of medically induced weight loss on skeletal muscle The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2024; 12, 785-787.
3. Neeland IJ, Linge J, Birkenfeld AL. Changes in lean body mass with glucagon-like peptide-1-based therapies and mitigation strategies. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024;26 (Suppl. 4):16-27, doi:10.1111/dom.15728.
4. Bosy-Westphal A, Kossel E, Goele K, Later W, Hitze B, Settler U, Heller M, Glüer CC, Heymsfield S B, Müller M J, Contribution of individual organ mass loss to weight loss–associated decline in resting energy expenditure, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 90, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 993-1001, ISSN 0002-9165, https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.2008.27402.
5. Magkos F. Protein-Rich Diets for Weight Loss Maintenance. Curr Obes Rep. 2020 Sep;9(3):213-218. doi: 10.1007/s13679-020-00391-0. PMID: 32542589.
6. Dougkas A, Reynolds CK, Givens ID, Elwood PC, Minihane AM. Associations between dairy consumption and body weight: a review of the evidence and underlying mechanisms. Nutr Res Rev. 2011 Jun;24(1):72-95. doi: 10.1017/S095442241000034X. Epub 2011 Feb 15. PMID: 21320381.
7. Sepandi M, Samadi M, Shirvani H, Alimohamadi Y, Taghdir M, Goudarzi F, Akbarzadeh I. Effect of whey protein supplementation on weight and body composition indicators: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022 Aug;50:74-83. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.05.020. Epub 2022 Jun 6. PMID: 35871954.
