Managing Muscle Loss in Obesity Treatments: InBody's Strategy

A strategy to systematically manage muscle loss, a significant concern with GLP-1 class obesity treatments, was presented using advanced body composition analysis systems. InBody, a global healthcare company, unveiled this strategy during a webinar titled '2026 GLP-1 Market Insight - How Will Hospitals Survive in the Era of Obesity Treatments?' attended by over 680 medical professionals.

The webinar provided an overview of the rapidly changing GLP-1 treatment market, characterized by price competition, diversification of formulations like oral and patch types, and expanding indications. InBody posited that future obesity treatment environments will shift beyond simple prescription of GLP-1 drugs to emphasize continuous patient management through precise body composition monitoring, focusing on the 'quality of weight loss.' This is crucial because traditional metrics like Body Mass Index (BMI) struggle to clearly differentiate between muscle and fat loss during drug treatment.

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This webinar was an opportunity to present a clear solution of precise monitoring based on body composition analysis to the medical field, which is facing changes due to the widespread adoption of GLP-1 obesity treatments.

InBody highlighted the necessity of specialized body composition analysis systems capable of comprehensively assessing not only muscle and fat mass but also precise changes in body water and nutritional indicators. The company noted that fluctuations in body water, which can lead to swelling, might be mistakenly interpreted as muscle loss. Therefore, metrics such as 'Phase Angle' and 'Extracellular Water Ratio (ECW Ratio)' were emphasized.

Phase Angle, a measure of cell membrane resistance, indicates cell membrane health and stability, with higher values signifying better health. The ECW Ratio, representing the proportion of extracellular water to total body water, helps assess hydration status and detect swelling or inflammation. InBody explained that by monitoring subtle changes in these metrics, even before visible changes in muscle or fat mass occur, medical professionals can make more precise prescriptions and prognoses.

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We will continue to contribute to improving the accuracy of medical professionals' prescriptions and the quality of patient care based on global clinical data and technological prowess.