Some of the largest global bodies in fitness have come together to address the best way to treat obesity amid the explosion of GLP-1s.
In a joint statement, ukactive, the Health & Fitness Association, AUSactive, Exercise New Zealand and Fitness Industry Council of Canada, along with the World Obesity Federation, called on governments, health systems and international institutions to ensure that as obesity medications — such as GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy — are rolled out globally, they are bolstered by integrated lifestyle interventions including physical activity and nutrition.
“The emergence of effective obesity medications marks a pivotal moment in global health, but it also presents a critical choice,” said Liz Clark, the president and CEO of the Health & Fitness Association, the largest fitness industry trade organization in the U.S. “We can treat obesity as a short-term clinical intervention, or we can build systems that deliver lasting health outcomes.”
“This is an opportunity to properly position our sector as an essential partner in prevention and care while ensuring individuals retain the freedom to engage in physical activity in the environments where they feel most comfortable,” Clark added.
Huw Edwards, the CEO U.K. fitness trade group ukactive, said the rise of GLP-1s represents “a huge opportunity in the UK and globally for our political leaders to integrate physical activity, nutrition and medication to combat obesity and the harm it causes.”
“The global rise of obesity medications must not be viewed as a substitute for physical activity and nutrition when in fact it heightens the need for these vital elements,” Edwards added. “Research shows the risks of relying solely on weight-loss drugs and the critical need for physical activity and nutrition to form part of every treatment program.
The organizations also warn that dependence on GLP-1s alone without an exercise routine or adequate nutrient intake could result in poor long-term outcomes, including loss of muscle mass, diminished functional capacity and widening health inequalities without a well-rounded care plan.
The statement also outlines key actions for global policymakers and health system leaders, including:
Embedding obesity medications within integrated care models that include funded access to physical activity and nutrition support
Protecting and expanding investment in prevention infrastructure and community-based programs
Ensuring equitable access to both treatment and supportive services
Measuring outcomes beyond weight, including functional health and long-term maintenance
Aligning health and economic policy to emphasize the value of prevention.
The organisations argued that investing in physical activity and nutrition is not only beneficial to those receiving obesity treatment, but entire populations — making it key to both prevention and long-term health system sustainability.
Fitness operators have already taken notice of how much GLP-1s are influencing their membership base, with many brands embracing the “gym-as-a-clinic” movement wholeheartedly.
As the medical-weight-loss era presses on, 17 operators now have some form of a GLP-1 program, according to a recent report from Inspire360. Approaches range from telehealth partnerships to adapted programming to in-house clinics where physicians or nurse practitioners prescribe GLP-1s directly at the club location.
Planet Fitness CEO Colleen Keating even identified a significant and largely untapped membership base as more people take weight-loss drugs, signaling the big-box chain’s strategy to embrace and support those taking GLP-1s as a major growth opportunity.
