“GLP-1 medications are providing new opportunities for people living with obesity, but medication alone is not the complete solution,”
“Exercise plays a critical role in helping people maintain muscle mass, improve strength and mobility, support mental wellbeing, and achieve sustainable long-term health outcomes. Qualified exercise professionals should be part of the treatment pathway from the outset.”
“New Zealand faces many of the same challenges as other developed nations, including rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease,”
“This research reinforces what exercise professionals see every day. Sustainable health improvements come not just from weight loss, but from building strength, improving movement, increasing confidence, and supporting people to develop lifelong healthy habits.”
ExerciseNZ is calling for exercise professionals to be integrated into obesity treatment pathways. New international research has found that combining structured exercise with GLP-1 weight-loss medications significantly improves long-term health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and delivers substantial economic benefits compared with medication alone.
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The white paper, From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy, arrives as countries around the world consider how best to manage the growing use of GLP-1 medications for obesity treatment.
Developed by FTI Consulting’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy, the research examined the health and economic impact of GLP-1 therapy when used alone compared with GLP-1 therapy combined with structured exercise. The analysis was conducted across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The findings were consistent across all five countries, demonstrating that combining regular exercise with GLP-1 treatment leads to better long-term health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and positive returns on investment.
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As the use of obesity medications continues to increase, ExerciseNZ is encouraging policymakers, healthcare providers, and funders to ensure exercise is recognised as a core component of obesity care.
“GLP-1 medications are providing new opportunities for people living with obesity, but medication alone is not the complete solution,” says Richard Beddie, Chief Executive of ExerciseNZ.
“Exercise plays a critical role in helping people maintain muscle mass, improve strength and mobility, support mental wellbeing, and achieve sustainable long-term health outcomes. Qualified exercise professionals should be part of the treatment pathway from the outset.”
The research highlights several important benefits of combining exercise with GLP-1 therapy, including:
Preserving muscle mass during weight loss
Maintaining strength, mobility, and bone health
Supporting long-term weight management
Reducing weight regain following cessation of medication
Lowering the risk of costly chronic health events
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ExerciseNZ is joining international industry organisations including the Health & Fitness Association, the HFA Foundation, AUSactive, Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and ukactive in calling on policymakers, payers, and healthcare systems to integrate structured exercise into GLP-1 treatment pathways. Specifically, to:
Recognition of structured exercise, including resistance training, as an essential component of obesity treatment
Integration of exercise support into GLP-1 care models
Stronger referral pathways between healthcare providers and qualified exercise professionals
Improved access to exercise services and facilities
Measurement of outcomes beyond weight loss, including physical function, quality of life, and long-term health outcomes
“New Zealand faces many of the same challenges as other developed nations, including rising rates of obesity, physical inactivity, and chronic disease,” says Beddie.
“This research reinforces what exercise professionals see every day. Sustainable health improvements come not just from weight loss, but from building strength, improving movement, increasing confidence, and supporting people to develop lifelong healthy habits.”
ExerciseNZ encourages individuals using GLP-1 medications to seek guidance from appropriately qualified exercise professionals to help maximise health outcomes and maintain long-term success.