Browse the evidence

Combining resistance training, a hypercaloric diet, and anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) produces significantly greater fat-free mass and strength gains with minimal fat gain compared to resistance training and hypercaloric diet alone in drug-free individuals.

For drug-free athletes, maximizing muscle growth requires consistent resistance training, adequate protein (1.6-2.2 g/kg), and a slight caloric surplus. This case study shows that adding AAS can triple fat-free mass gains and significantly boost strength with minimal fat gain, but this comes with legal, health, and ethical risks. For natural athletes, focus on progressive overload, volume (12-16 sets/muscle/week), and nutrition; do not expect the same magnitude of rapid recomposition without pharmacological intervention.

Higher carbohydrate intake does not independently enhance resistance training-induced muscle hypertrophy when protein and energy intake are controlled.

You do not need to eat high carbohydrates to maximize muscle growth. As long as you are consuming enough protein and total calories (energy surplus for growth), you can choose your carbohydrate intake based on personal preference, performance needs, or digestive comfort without negatively impacting your muscle gains. Low-carb diets are not inherently inferior for hypertrophy if energy and protein are adequate.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (liraglutide) have unclear clinical benefits in non-obese patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF).

For non-obese HFrEF patients, GLP-1 agonists like liraglutide may not provide significant weight loss or clear clinical benefits based on current small trials. Consult your doctor about the specific relevance of these treatments for your condition.

Bariatric arterial embolization (BAE) produces modest, transient weight loss (mean 7.0% at 4-5 months, 4.2% at 12 months) in patients with BMI ≥30 who have failed nonoperative management and are ineligible or unwilling to undergo metabolic-bariatric surgery.

If you have obesity (BMI ≥30) and haven't been able to lose weight through diet, exercise, or standard medications, and you are not a candidate for or do not want surgery, BAE might be an option. It involves a minimally invasive procedure to block blood flow to part of the stomach, which reduces hunger hormones. Expect modest weight loss (around 4-7%) over the first year, but it requires ongoing support from a weight management program. It is not a standalone fix and results vary significantly between individuals.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) may indirectly improve autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) outcomes by reducing systemic inflammation, improving insulin sensitivity, and modulating the gut-thyroid axis, rather than through direct thyroidal effects.

If you have thyroid autoimmunity and are considering GLP-1RAs for weight or diabetes, expect that your thyroid medication doses may need adjustment as you lose weight. The drug likely helps your thyroid health indirectly by lowering body-wide inflammation and improving metabolic health, rather than directly attacking thyroid antibodies. There is no strong evidence yet that it cures thyroid disease, but it is generally safe regarding thyroid cancer risk in humans. Work closely with your endocrinologist to monitor your thyroid levels during weight loss.

Women with non-diabetic obesity experience greater cardiovascular benefits from GLP-1 RAs, particularly regarding heart failure hospitalization and stroke reduction, compared to men.

Women with obesity may derive even greater heart protection from GLP-1 medications than men, especially regarding heart failure prevention. This is particularly true for postmenopausal women who are at higher risk for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Discussing your specific heart failure risk with your provider is crucial.

State-of-the-art anti-obesity medications (AOMs) like GLP-1 analogues are highly effective appetite suppressants but require continuous use, as discontinuation leads to inevitable weight regain.

Understand that obesity medications like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide are long-term treatments. Stopping them will likely lead to weight regain. Plan for continuous use as part of your long-term health strategy.

Phytotherapeutic agents (e.g., Green Tea, Nigella Sativa, Bofu Tsusho San) produce statistically significant but clinically less relevant weight loss compared to modern AOMs.

Herbal supplements like Green Tea or Black Seed may help with modest weight loss, but they are not as effective as prescription medications like Semaglutide or Tirzepatide. Manage your expectations accordingly.

Current randomized controlled trial evidence does not demonstrate a statistically significant increase in thyroid cancer risk with the use of incretin-based therapies (GLP-1RAs and dual GIP/GLP-1RAs).

Current high-quality randomized trial data does not support a claim that GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 drugs cause thyroid cancer in the general population. However, the evidence is very low certainty because these trials are too short and too small to rule out a rare, long-term risk. Clinicians should continue prescribing these drugs for their proven benefits while adhering to the FDA boxed warning for patients with a specific family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

Preoperative use of GLP-1 receptor agonists is associated with reduced rates of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and hospital readmission in patients undergoing total hip and knee arthroplasty, particularly among those with diabetes or morbid obesity.

If you are taking a GLP-1 RA (like Ozempic or Wegovy) before hip or knee replacement surgery, current evidence suggests it may lower your risk of joint infection and hospital readmission, especially if you have diabetes or obesity. However, because these drugs cause rapid weight loss, your surgical team must carefully monitor your nutritional status (e.g., albumin levels) to ensure you are not malnourished, which could increase complication risks. Do not stop the medication without consulting your surgeon, as the net benefit appears positive in many cases, but close monitoring is essential.

Epitalon, a tetrapeptide, extends cellular lifespan by activating telomerase and lengthening telomeres, while also modulating pineal gland function to restore melatonin synthesis.

Epitalon is an investigational peptide that may extend cellular lifespan by activating telomerase and restoring melatonin production. While animal studies show promising lifespan extension, human data is limited to small studies without long-term safety validation. It is not FDA-approved for anti-aging.

BPC-157 and TB-500 enhance tissue repair and angiogenesis in aged tissues, showing promise in small pilot studies for chronic pain and wound healing.

BPC-157 and TB-500 are peptides that may help heal tissues, tendons, and muscles by promoting blood vessel growth and reducing inflammation. Small studies suggest they can relieve chronic pain and heal wounds, but they are not FDA-approved for these uses, and long-term safety is unknown.

Semax enhances neuroplasticity and cognitive function in aging by upregulating BDNF and modulating neurotransmitter systems, showing benefits in stroke recovery and cognitive decline.

Semax is a peptide that may improve brain health by increasing BDNF, a key factor in neuroplasticity. Russian studies suggest it can help stroke recovery and cognitive function, but it is not FDA-approved for these uses, and independent Western validation is lacking.

Diabetes, obesity and cardiorenal/metabolic disease often occur in the same patient.

Healthcare providers should be aware of the interconnectedness of these conditions in patients.

Early intensive combination intervention can prevent disease progression and events.

Implementing early and intensive interventions may improve patient outcomes.

Suboptimal metabolic control has not improved in past 20 years despite new medications.

There is a need for improved strategies to manage metabolic control in patients.

GLP-1 agonists have drawbacks in treating obesity.

Practitioners should be aware of the limitations of GLP-1 agonists in obesity treatment.

An alternative approach to GLP-1 agonist treatment includes long-term lifestyle programming.

Incorporating lifestyle changes alongside GLP-1 treatment may enhance effectiveness.

The approach of 'Food Is Medicine' is suggested to address obesity burdens.

Utilizing appropriate food choices can be a key strategy in obesity management.

Animal-based proteins should represent the majority (i.e., ≥65%) of protein intake during active cancer treatment.

Clinicians should prioritize animal-based protein sources for patients with cancer.

A diet rich in plant-derived proteins may support muscle anabolism in cancer but requires a larger quantity of protein.

Patients may include more plant proteins in their diet, but they need to ensure adequate intake.

Initiating an exclusively plant-based (i.e., vegan) diet upon a diagnosis of cancer may pose risks due to elevated protein requirements.

Patients should avoid vegan diets immediately after a cancer diagnosis to meet protein needs.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) acknowledges that lawful and ethical therapeutic use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is now an accepted mainstream treatment for several clinical disorders.

Practitioners should recognize AAS as a legitimate treatment option for certain clinical conditions.

There is increased recognition that AAS are commonly used illicitly to enhance performance and appearance in several segments of the population.

Awareness of AAS misuse is crucial for health professionals and athletes alike.