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Actor Ram Kapoor warns weight-loss drug users that exercise is still essential

Reported by Sneha Patil (Staff Writer) · Indian Express - Health ·

Unconfirmed — Reported by one source so far

Reported by one source so far

Worth knowing
Actor Ram Kapoor warns weight-loss drug users that exercise is still essentialPhoto: Wikimedia Commons

Actor Ram Kapoor has stated that people using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic must still exercise, warning that relying on medication alone leads to muscle loss. During a recent interview with Mashable India, the actor noted that while anyone is free to use such drugs, skipping physical activity while taking them is a serious mistake. He compared his own workout-driven physique to his wife Gautami's natural build, calling physical training irreplaceable. The actor used strong language to caution that drugs only make a person thinner and cannot act as a substitute for hard work in the gym. Medical experts agree with the actor's stance, pointing out that dropping kilos through medication alone creates distinct health concerns. Dr Rajiv Kovil, a diabetes and obesity specialist at Zandra Healthcare, explained that true health involves losing fat while keeping muscle and physical fitness intact. He cited the STEP 1 DEXA substudy, which showed semaglutide treatment linked to a nineteen percent drop in fat mass alongside a ten percent drop in lean body mass. Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, a bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon in Mumbai, added that skipping workouts can hurt overall body composition and lower energy expenditure, making it harder to keep weight off later. Both doctors advise combining medications with balanced protein intake, walking, aerobic workouts, and regular resistance training.

Context

Weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Mounjaro belong to a class of drugs that help control appetite and blood sugar, but doctors frequently remind patients that lifestyle habits dictate long-term health outcomes. Clinical trials like STEP 4 demonstrate that stopping these drugs often leads to weight regain unless users maintain permanent behavioural changes. Medical professionals therefore urge patients to treat pharmaceutical treatments as tools that complement, rather than replace, good nutrition and physical activity.

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