GLP-1 medications are reshaping the weight loss market, and trainers are already seeing the ripple effects. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are no longer fringe prescriptions. These weight loss treatments have become mainstream and medically recommended. And more importantly, these medications started changing how clients approach fitness.

And yet, most coaches still lack a system for helping clients with GLP-1s.

The data is clear: tens of millions will be prescribed GLP-1s in the next decade. They’re amazing when it comes to suppressing appetite and slowing digestion. In many cases, this type of treatment results in rapid weight loss. 

Good news overall, right? Not exactly. As you know, weight loss isn’t always healthy. Muscle mass declines. Energy dips. Some clients start skipping workouts altogether because they feel too tired or too nauseous.

If you’re not ready to coach through those changes, someone else will.

Why This Matters Now

Whether they tell you or not, GLP-1 users are showing up in your sessions. Perhaps they’re considering it, but haven’t sought your input. Either way, their needs are different. They don’t need to burn more calories. What they do need from you is to help coach them to stability: physically, emotionally, and behaviorally.

That means less focus on step goals or deficit tracking, and more focus on movement quality, muscle retention, and recovery. You’ll need to help clients rebuild habits while their bodies are in a state of flux. 

It’s a different kind of coaching, one that rewards patience, presence, and technical control.

True enough, the margin for error is smaller. If you overwork them, they may not come back. If you miss key cues, you risk injury. This is where ISSA comes in.

ISSA built a new GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training course. It gives fitness professionals the structure, language, and tools to lead with clarity.

What Clients Are Really Dealing With

Weight loss is rarely linear, but GLP-1s can make it feel like it is. A few weeks in, many users begin to notice significant changes. But underneath the scale victory are real problems: 

• Dizziness, 
• Fatigue, 
• Muscle los,s
• Coordination loss. 

Hunger signals vanish, but so do regular meals. Progress feels out of sync with strength.

Add to that the mental toll. Clients may feel pressure to keep the weight off, even after tapering. Some develop anxiety around food. Others lose motivation for exercise because they think the medication is doing all the work.

This is where your professional coaching makes the difference.

You’re not here to diagnose. As their coach and professional fitness consultant, you’re here to translate. Your job is to spot issues before they compound and guide clients back to sustainable patterns. 

That could mean scaling back the intensity, shifting to movement-based snacks, or building confidence through micro-wins instead of maximum reps.

What the ISSA Course Covers

The ISSA GLP-1 Weight Loss Support Training course is designed for working professionals who need real-time solutions. You’ll learn:

• How GLP-1 medications impact digestion, energy, and muscle tissue
• Signs to watch for in workouts and recovery
• How to coach through nausea, low energy, and hydration gaps
• Ways to protect lean mass through protein targets and resistance plans
• Language to use with clients that builds trust without stepping into clinical advice
• Frameworks to support long-term behaviour change even as prescriptions shift

You’ll also get templates, scripts, and real-world case studies. These help you prepare for actual client conversations, not textbook examples. The course is online, self-paced, and includes a final assessment with 6 CEUs.

A Competitive Advantage That Helps People

There’s plenty of hype around GLP-1s. What matters is what happens after the hype fades. 

Clients still need to move well, eat properly, sleep enough, and manage stress. Medication might jumpstart the change, but coaching is what sustains it.

That’s where most trainers miss. They get caught flat-footed, unsure what’s within their scope, or how to balance client expectations with program safety. The right course solves that. It gives you boundaries, playbooks, and options. 

So, instead of reacting, you’re leading.

This is a clear opportunity to grow your practice without gimmicks. GLP-1 users are no longer a niche. In 2025, they’ve become your neighbours, your clients, your referrals. They’re looking for coaches who get it; coaches who won’t push them too hard or say the wrong thing.

If you’re ready to meet that need, this is your time.

Final Thoughts

The GLP-1 wave isn’t slowing down, and coaches who adapt early will own this space. While others scramble to catch up, you’ll already be speaking the language clients need to hear. The technical skills matter, but what sets you apart is understanding that these clients are rebuilding their bodies.

This course gives you the framework to be that guide. The clients are already there, sitting in your sessions, dealing with changes they don’t fully understand. Your choice is simple: learn to coach them properly, or watch them find someone who will.

About Robert James Rivera
Robert is a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the health niche and its ever-expanding sub-niches. As a food and nutrition scientist, he knows where to find the resources necessary to verify health claims.