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Regular exercise and the use of liraglutide, a medication for obesity, can help preserve bone health during weight loss, a new study suggests.

Bone density typically decreases with rapid weight loss, increasing the risk of fractures, particularly among older adults. However, researchers from Denmark found that combining exercise with liraglutide preserved bone-mineral density (BMD) in the hip, spine, and forearm among study participants.

Published Tuesday in JAMA Network Open, the study is reportedly the first to assess the effects of liraglutide and exercise both separately and in combination on bone health.

Liraglutide, marketed as Victoza and Saxenda, belongs to a class of GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes by reducing appetite. Previous studies have shown that liraglutide can enhance bone formation and prevent bone loss in obese women who lose weight.

In the current study, 195 obese participants initially underwent an eight-week, highly restrictive diet resulting in at least a 5% reduction in body weight, the New York Post reported. Subsequently, they were assigned to one of four year-long programs: moderate to vigorous exercise, daily liraglutide doses, a combination of both, or a placebo injection.

Results indicated that both the exercise and liraglutide groups maintained their weight loss, with the combination group achieving further weight reduction compared to those on placebo, who experienced weight regain.

Importantly, despite additional weight loss in the combination group, participants were able to preserve their bone health.

The study acknowledges limitations, such as its focus on participants without chronic diseases, suggesting that findings may not be directly applicable to older adults or individuals with diabetes.

Nevertheless, researchers noted the significance of combining exercise with liraglutide treatment for maintaining bone health during weight loss.

The study advocates for comprehensive approaches in managing obesity that consider not only weight loss but also the preservation of skeletal health, particularly in populations vulnerable to bone density loss.