Samsung Electronics and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Diabetes Research Center (DRC) today jointly announced a research study to investigate the efficacy of Galaxy Watch in assisting adults starting GLP-1RA¹ therapy to monitor and potentially manage muscle loss. With nearly one in five adults in the US saying they have taken GLP-1 medication, this innovative clinical study will investigate how continuous data from Galaxy Watch can help patients and clinicians monitor and mitigate muscle loss by providing a clearer, more holistic view of a person’s body composition and activity levels during treatment.

As GLP-1 medications become widely adopted for weight management and chronic disease treatment, tracking changes in muscle mass and physical activity alongside weight loss has emerged as a key medical focus. This research will delve into the feasibility of managing muscle loss for GLP-1 patients by utilizing biometric data including body composition, activity levels and heart rate provided by Galaxy Watch and Samsung Health.

Samsung and MGH have continuously collaborated on digital health research utilizing both Galaxy Watch and Samsung Health, including studies on Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). The MGH Diabetes Research Center, which specializes in research on diabetes and GLP-1 obesity treatment, initiated the joint study with Samsung after recognizing the potential for wearables to monitor body composition.

This study will also utilize Galaxy Watch8, powered by Samsung’s groundbreaking BioActive Sensor,² which helps provide advanced predictive and preventative wellness through more accurate health measurements.

Under the leadership of Dr. Melissa Putman, the study will enroll 100 adults beginning treatment with weight-loss medications into two groups. The intervention group will use Galaxy Watch to monitor their body composition via Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), track physical activity and receive personalized exercise guides. Their progress will be compared to the other group, which will receive the standard guidance and care typically given to patients starting GLP-1RA therapy.

To evaluate the study’s progress, researchers will use clinical-grade DXA scans³ — the gold standard for body composition analysis — to track physiological changes in both groups. These data will help determine whether the insights and tailored guidance provided by Galaxy Watch8 can effectively support participants in building healthier daily habits, which may in turn contribute to better health outcomes particularly in preserving muscle mass.

“Many GLP-1 patients struggle with muscle mass loss, a common side effect that can cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a drop in basal metabolic rate, which can lead to future weight regain,” said Dr. Putman, Director of the MGH Diabetes Research Center. “We’re interested in exploring how continuous data from a wearable device can provide invaluable insights into a patient’s activity levels, heart rate and body composition, giving clinicians a more holistic view of treatment impact and allowing for more timely, data-driven adjustments to their care plan.”

“This collaboration with MGH focuses on addressing real-world health challenges that patients face during GLP-1RA therapy, specifically managing muscle loss and building healthy habits,” said Jongmin Choi, Head of Health R&D Group, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, Samsung Electronics. “Ultimately, this study highlights Samsung’s ongoing commitment to delivering comprehensive and proactive health management solutions through the advanced capabilities of Galaxy Watch.”

Samsung remains committed to researching how Galaxy Watch can support patients in managing their daily physical health. By fostering sustainable wellness habits, the company aims to help patients achieve better clinical outcomes and long-term vitality.

Samsung continues to expand its partnerships with leading medical institutions to advance wearable health monitoring capabilities and broaden the digital health ecosystem. Recently, Samsung demonstrated the potential for early vasovagal syncope (VVS) detection using Galaxy Watch in a joint clinical study with Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital in Korea and also collaborated with Stanford Medicine to further advance Galaxy Watch’s Sleep Apnea feature.

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1. Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone secreted by the intestines after eating that regulates blood sugar levels and suppresses appetite. While GLP-1 weight-loss medications that mimic this hormone are gaining significant popularity globally, they can be accompanied by side effects such as gastrointestinal disorders, muscle mass loss and potential weight regain upon discontinuation. ↩︎
2. The BioActive Sensor is a technology that integrates three sensors into a single chipset: an optical heart rate sensor (PPG), an electrical heart rate sensor (ECG) and a bioelectrical impedance analysis sensor (BIA). This sensor has been featured in Galaxy Watch devices since the release of Galaxy Watch4 in 2021, allowing users to measure and monitor various health indicators, such as body composition, heart rate, blood pressure and ECG tracking. ↩︎
3. DXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) scan: A specialized medical imaging technology that uses low-dose X-rays to precisely measure body composition, including body fat, lean muscle mass and bone density. Universally recognized as the “gold standard” for body composition analysis, it is widely utilized in clinical research to accurately evaluate physiological changes. ↩︎