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Samsung and Massachusetts General Hospital announced a joint clinical study to investigate whether Galaxy Watch can help adults starting GLP-1 weight-loss drug therapy monitor and manage muscle loss, a common side effect of the treatment.
Enrollment targets 100 adults who are just beginning GLP-1 therapy, with participants assigned to one of two groups under the direction of Dr. Melissa Putman, director of the MGH Diabetes Research Center, over a six-month period. Galaxy Watch8, paired with Samsung Health, will be worn by participants in the first group, giving them access to body composition measurements, activity and heart rate data, and customized guidance around exercise. Participants in the second group will not use a wearable and will instead follow the routine clinical pathway for new GLP-1 patients, Samsung said.
To measure how participants' bodies are actually changing, the research team will administer DXA scans — widely regarded as the gold standard for body composition imaging — across both groups, allowing them to assess what value, if any, the wearable data adds to that clinical picture.
"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," Dr. Putman said in a statement. "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."
