"Nutrition expert Sharon Madigan says taking weight-loss drugs to improve performances will deliver unexpected side effects"
"If an athlete came to Sharon Madigan in her job as head of performance nutrition at the Sport Ireland Institute and asked about using something like Ozempic, the first question she would ask is 'why?'"
"Madigan says a lot of high-performance athletes she works with are not eating enough or not eating at the right time, so the misuse of medication to lose weight could come with consequences for their fitness."
Many high-performance athletes are not eating enough or are mistiming meals, creating pressure to lose weight. Using GLP-1 weight-loss medications such as Ozempic to alter body composition for performance can produce unexpected side effects that impair fitness and recovery. Misuse of these medications without addressing underlying nutrition issues can reduce energy availability, hinder training adaptations, and compromise health. Performance nutrition specialists prioritize assessing reasons for drug use, optimizing intake, and timing of meals before considering pharmacological interventions. Relying on medication as a shortcut for weight control introduces risks that may outweigh any perceived competitive benefits.
Read at Independent
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