By Lew Kizer — 2026-10-21 — Health & Nutrition
The short answer
Omada Health presented a study at the World Obesity and Weight Management Congress in Boston on October 20, 2026. Among 245 adults who had recently started a GLP-1, those in Omada's GLP-1 Care Track lost 6.0% of body weight in 12 weeks versus 3.3% with usual care, and cut body fat percentage by 3.3% versus 1.6%. The study was company-run and compared enrolled members with a usual-care group.
Key facts
- 245 adults with obesity who started a GLP-1 within the prior eight weeks: 151 in Omada's track, 94 usual care.
- Weight loss at 12 weeks: 6.0% vs 3.3%.
- Body fat percentage: −3.3% vs −1.6%.
- Muscle mass percentage: +0.6% vs +0.2%.
- Depression and anxiety symptoms fell about 30%, more than with usual care.
- Presented Oct. 20, 2026 at the World Obesity and Weight Management Congress in Boston.
KINGSPORT, Tenn., Oct. 21, 2026 — Weight-loss medicines get most of the attention. A study presented this week looked at what happens in the weeks between prescriptions.
Omada Health presented the research October 20 at the World Obesity and Weight Management Congress in Boston.
This article reports research news and is not medical advice. Talk with your clinician before changing your diet or medicines.
What the study compared
The study followed 245 adults with obesity who had started a GLP-1 medicine for weight loss within the previous eight weeks. 151 joined Omada's GLP-1 Care Track, which adds coaching and support between clinician visits. 94 received usual care, and about a quarter of that group said they used some other wellness program.
| At 12 weeks | Omada track | Usual care |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss | 6.0% | 3.3% |
| Body fat percentage change | −3.3% | −1.6% |
| Muscle mass percentage change | +0.6% | +0.2% |
“GLP-1 care is about more than how much weight you lose.” — Thomas Tsang, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Omada Health
Reading it carefully
Twelve weeks is short, and the study was run by the company that sells the program. Members chose to join, so they may differ from the usual-care group in ways the study could not measure. A rising muscle percentage can also mean fat fell faster than muscle, not that muscle grew. Still, the direction matches what dietitians have long said: medicine plus a plan beats medicine alone.
Tsang added that “losing too much muscle can make it harder to keep the weight off long-term.”
What you can do this week
Our new guide to tracking muscle and fat on a GLP-1 compares body-scan options and what to ask your clinician. For meals, start with our GLP-1 meal planning page.
“You don't have to figure out the macros. You don't have to wonder if the portions are right. We've already done that work. All you have to do is eat.” — Lew Kizer, Founder, SmashMeals
Commentary, not medical advice
The SmashMeals perspective
The medicine does its work between doctor visits whether you have a plan or not. This study suggests a plan helps. Ours is the food part: protein-forward meals, portions sized for a smaller appetite, and posted nutrition so you can see what you are getting. It is not coaching and it is not medical care, but it removes the nightly question of what to eat.
Frequently asked questions
Does coaching improve weight loss on a GLP-1?
In Omada's 12-week study, members in its GLP-1 Care Track lost 6.0% of body weight versus 3.3% with usual care. The study was company-run and not a randomized trial, so it suggests rather than proves a benefit.
Do GLP-1 medicines cause muscle loss?
Weight loss from any cause includes some lean mass. In the STEP 1 body-scan substudy, semaglutide reduced fat mass by 19.3% and lean mass by 9.7% from baseline, while the share of the body that was lean rose.
How can I protect muscle on a GLP-1?
The most common recommendations are enough protein spread across meals and regular resistance exercise. Ask your clinician or a registered dietitian for targets that fit you.
Sources and credits
Follow the original sources for context and verification. A reference is not an endorsement of SmashMeals.
- Omada Health to present peer-reviewed research on improving weight loss and body composition during GLP-1 treatment (opens in a new tab)
Omada Health via GlobeNewswire
Why it matters: Primary source for the study numbers and presentation.
- Semaglutide DEXA substudy of STEP 1 (abstract) (opens in a new tab)
Wilding et al. via Newswise
Why it matters: Trial body-scan data on fat and lean mass with semaglutide.