A Smart Senior Daily guest article from Tanna Donalson, P.A.-C., the owner/CEO of Redbud Medical Spa in Denver, Colorado. Donalson has been practicing medicine for over a decade and is an expert in medical weight loss.
GLP-1s have become an increasingly popular avenue for medical weight loss across multiple demographics, and seniors are no exception. According to a recent Gallup Poll, the percentage of Americans who have used GLP-1 medications rose from 6 percent in 2024 to 15 percent in 2026.
People 65 and older have a higher prevalence of obesity, and the proportion of people with type 2 diabetes rises with age. However, while seniors can definitely benefit from these treatments, whether a senior should take GLP-1s is more nuanced.
While this type of medical weight-loss treatment can help seniors, they are also more prone to experiencing the negative side effects of that treatment. Here are a few things you should consider if you are a senior looking to use GLP-1s, and a few things you need to do if you ultimately decide they are right for you.
Clear-eyed Assessment
Whether a senior should use GLP-1s boils down to one simple question: Does the benefit outweigh the risk?
If a senior is obese, has type 2 diabetes, and losing weight will help manage chronic pain, then perhaps that patient will ultimately benefit from GLP-1s.
However, many seniors, even those who could lose 20 to 30 pounds, are frailer at baseline. You don't want these seniors losing too much strength, muscle mass, and bone density. Losing that weight is not going to be worth it if it leaves them with less energy and a higher risk of a serious fall injury.
"Is this medication safe for me?" is the question seniors need to ask themselves and their medical provider. You don't want your practitioner to simply look at your weight.
I would not recommend starting on GLP-1s if your practitioner is not taking these steps. GLP-1s are effective medical weight-loss drugs, but minimizing risk while taking them requires a practitioner who is involved in the process beyond signing the prescription.
Once a senior and their medical provider have decided that GLP-1s are right for them, there are a couple of steps they can take to promote healthy weight loss.
Smart Senior Daily Staff
Protein is Nonnegotiable
Healthy weight loss means eating right. These drugs will suppress your appetite, so it is imperative that your body gets the right amount of nutrients. The most important thing is to make sure you are eating between 100 and 120 grams of protein a day.
For many seniors, this can be really hard, as they already have slow gastric emptying, and GLP-1s slow that process even more. Eating the right amount of protein is the best way to combat muscle loss that accompanies weight loss and aging. Muscle loss and loss of bone density lead to increased frailty and a higher risk of injury from falls.
Incorporate Resistance Training
You want to incorporate resistance training into your workout routine to maintain muscle mass and bone density while on GLP-1s. You want to create tension on the bones during your workouts. The weight you want to lose should come from fat, not from functional tissue.
This request often intimidates many seniors because they think of resistance training as an intense weightlifting routine with heavy weights, but it doesn't have to be. Light weightlifting with small weights or a resistance band is just fine.
Even less strenuous resistance training, such as water aerobics, is beneficial for maintaining muscle tissue and preventing loss of bone density. Doing some light resistance training three to four times a week for 45 minutes is more than enough to support healthy weight loss on GLP-1s.
Gary P Guthrie
Hydrate
It seems obvious that people who exercise and lose weight should drink lots of water, but dehydration is a real concern for seniors on GLP-1s. These treatments don't just make you eat less; they also make you drink less.
You should drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water every day and make a conscious effort to meet that goal. Your thirst will be diminished on GLP-1s, so keep a water bottle near you at all times and use a straw, because you will drink more and faster that way.
The Bottom Line
GLP-1s can be an effective weight-loss treatment for seniors. Like anyone else, seniors can benefit from reduced constant cravings for food and, ultimately, weight loss. However, simply losing weight should not be the main goal for seniors.
The main goal for seniors should be maintaining an independent, happy, and healthy lifestyle. If losing weight can contribute to that goal, then GLP-1s can be a great treatment. However, if you are only focused on how many pounds come off the scale, then GLP-1s might not be right for you.
Have a long talk with your practitioner and have them commit to a treatment plan that ensures you are using GLP-1s in a healthy way that promotes a happy, healthy, and independent lifestyle in your golden years.
