GLP-1 Medications – What Personal Trainers Need to Know

by Aj Mortara, EDD, CSCS,*D
Personal Training Quarterly June 2025
Vol 11, Issue 4

Share:

This article discusses why personal trainers need to know how GLP-1 medications work, their efficacy, and their side effects so they will be prepared to interact with clients using these drugs.

Paywall block issue

This article is not configured properly for members or paid content.
isMemberOnly: {{isMemberOnly}} | isPaidContent: {{isPaidContent}}
spc: One or more parts of the product SPC is missing.

Read the full article

View the video

Login to view more


{{discountDesc}} Valid thru {{discountEnds}}

This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} is available with a NSCA membership

This {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}} can be purchased for {{prices}}
Price includes membership pricing and promotions

Purchase this {{ogType == 'video.other' ? 'video':'article'}}. Price range: {{prices}}
Price range includes membership pricing and promotions

Become a Member Add to Cart Login

This article originally appeared in Personal Training Quarterly (PTQ)—a quarterly publication for NSCA Members designed specifically for the personal trainer. Discover easy-to-read, research-based articles that take your training knowledge further with Nutrition, Programming, and Personal Business Development columns in each quarterly, electronic issue. Read more articles from PTQ »


 

Share:

REFERENCES

  1. Alfadda, AA, Al-Naami, MY, Masood, A, Elawad, R, Isnani, A, Ahamed, SS, and Alfadda, NA. Long-term weight outcomes after bariatric surgery: A single center Saudi Arabian cohort experience. Journal of Clinical Medicine 10(21): 4922, 2021.
  2. Ard, J, Fitch, A, Fruh, S, and Herman, L. Weight loss and maintenance related to the mechanism of action of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Advances in Therapy 38: 2821-2839, 2021.
  3. Beck, B. Neuropeptide Y in normal eating and in genetic and dietary-induced obesity. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 361(1471): 1159-1185, 2006.
  4. Bode, B. Design, findings and implications of the liraglutide phase III clinical trial program. Clinical Investigation 2(1): 59-72, 2012
  5. Drucker, D. The GLP-1 journey from discovery science to therapeutic impact. Journal of Clinical Investigation 134(2): e175634, 2024.
  6. Efendic, S, and Portwood, N. Overview of incretin hormones. Hormone and Metabolic Research 36(11-12): 742-746, 2004.
  7. Hall, S, Isaacs, D, and Clements, JN. Pharmacokinetics and clinical implications of semaglutide: A new glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor agonist. Clinical Pharmacokinetics 57(12): 1529-1538, 2018.
  8. Hathaway, JT, Shah, MP, Hathaway, DB, Zekavat, SM, Krasniqi, D, Gittinger Jr., JW, et al. Risk of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in patients prescribed semaglutide. JAMA Ophthalmology 142(8): 732-739, 2024.
  9. Iqbal, J, Wu, H-X, Hu, N, Zhou, Y-H, Xiao, F, Wang, T, et al. Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on body weight in adults with obesity without diabetes mellitus—a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. Obesity Reviews 23(6): e13435, 2022.
  10. Lopez, P, Taaffe, DR, Galvão, DA, Newton, RU, Nonemacher, ER, Wendt, VM, et al. Resistance training effectiveness on body composition and body weight outcomes in individuals with overweight and obesity across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews 23(5): e13428, 2023.
  11. O’Brien, PE, Hindle, A, Brennan, L, Skinner, S, Burton, P, Smith, A, Crosthwaite, G, and Brown, W. Long-term outcomes after bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of weight loss at 10 or more years for all bariatric procedures and a single-centre review of 20-year outcomes after adjustable gastric banding. Obesity Surgery 29(1): 3-14, 2019.
  12. Padwal, R, Li, SK, and Lau, DC. Long-term pharmacotherapy for obesity and overweight. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 3: 2004.
  13. Rubino, D, Abrahamsson, N, Davies, M, Hesse, D, Greenway, FL, Jensen, C, et al. Effect of continued weekly subcutaneous semaglutide vs placebo on weight loss maintenance in adults with overweight or obesity: The STEP 4 randomized clinical trial. Journal of the American Medical Association 325(14): 1414-1425, 2021.
  14. Sodhi, M, Rezaeianzadeh, R, Kezouh, A, and Etminan, M. Risk of gastrointestinal adverse events associated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss. Journal of the American Medical Association 330(18): 1795-1797, 2023.
  15. Wharton, S, Blevins, T, Connery, L, Rosenstock, J, Raha, S, Liu, R, et al. Daily oral GLP-1 receptor agonist orforglipron for adults with obesity. New England Journal of Medicine 389(10): 877-888, 2023.
  16. Wilding, JPH, Batterham, RL, Davies, M, Van Gaal, LF, Kandler, K, Konakli, K, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 24(8): 1553-1564, 2022.
  17. Wilding, JPH, Batterham, RL, Calanna, S, Davies, M, Van Gaal, LF, Lingvay, I, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 384(11): 989–1002, 2021.

 

Learn about the benefits of NSCA Membership »

About the author

Anthony Mortara, EdD, CSCS,*D

Contact Anthony Mortara

Contact Anthony Mortara

Your first name is required.
Your last name is required.
Your email is required.
Your message is required.
Your reCaptcha is required.

Your email was successfully sent to Anthony Mortara

AJ Mortara is an Associate Professor at Berea College, where he chairs the Health and Human Performance Department. He teaches in the exercise science ...

View full biography
#NSCAStrong #NSCAStrong

has been added to your shopping cart!

Continue Shopping Checkout Now


Full Page Experience Privacy Policy