Samsung is cooperating with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in the US to study the possibility of using smartwatches to monitor muscle loss in people using GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
GLP-1 drugs are becoming increasingly popular thanks to their effectiveness in treating obesity and controlling diabetes.
However, besides reducing body fat, many recent studies show that users may also experience significant muscle mass reduction during weight loss.
According to researchers, this is an issue that needs attention because muscles play an important role in maintaining metabolic rate, physical strength, bone and joint health and long-term weight control.
Samsung's new project focuses on assessing whether data collected from smart wearable devices can help detect changes in body composition early.
If successful, doctors can monitor the treatment process more accurately and make appropriate recommendations to limit muscle loss.
The study will be conducted on 100 adults and divided into two groups. The first group is treated with conventional methods under the supervision of a doctor. The second group, in addition to using GLP-1 drugs, is also equipped with a Galaxy Watch 8 to monitor health indicators and body composition throughout the study period.
Data from the watch will be compared with the DXA scan results, a method considered a gold standard in assessing body composition and muscle mass. This comparison helps determine the accuracy of wearable devices in clinical health monitoring.
Dr. Melissa Putman, Director of the Center for Diabetes Research at MGH, said the research team wants to find out whether wearable devices can provide doctors with a more comprehensive view of the effects of GLP-1 drugs on the body over time.
In addition to the risk of muscle loss, GLP-1 drugs are also recorded to cause some side effects such as nausea, digestive disorders, taste changes, or loss of facial fat tissue.
For Samsung, this research continues to show the orientation of turning smartwatches into in-depth health tracking tools instead of just serving physical purposes.
Previously, this company had cooperated with many research organizations to develop cardiovascular monitoring features, sleep apnea detection and remote health monitoring support.
