Samsung has announced a joint clinical study with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Diabetes Research Center to track changes in body composition of patients taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (such as Ozempic and Mounjaro) using the Galaxy Watch 8. These drugs accelerate weight loss by suppressing appetite, but they also often lead to rapid loss of skeletal muscle, which can affect strength, mobility, and even damage the heart, kidneys, liver, and other organs. The study will recruit 100 adults currently receiving GLP-1 treatment and randomly divide them into two groups: the experimental group will wear the Galaxy Watch 8 to continuously monitor heart rate, activity levels, and body fat composition, and receive personalized training recommendations; the control group will continue with standard treatment without using wearable devices.
Body composition measurement has been supported since the Galaxy Watch 4 and later models. The Watch 8 has also received FDA clearance for sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation detection, and has recently been approved to offer blood pressure monitoring in the U.S. Samsung says it aims to use the continuous data stream from wearable devices to help clinicians more comprehensively assess the effects of drug treatments and enable more timely personalized interventions. If the study results are positive, the relevant features may be rolled out to a wider range of users.