On February 19, 2025, the Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition, and Health will host a scientific symposium on weight loss and its impact on skeletal muscle. The event will take place in Lecture Hall 1 at the TUM Campus in Olympiapark, and interested participants can register online free of charge.
The symposium will focus on GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy and Ozempic — weight-loss injections that have revolutionized obesity treatment but may also promote the loss of fat-free mass, particularly muscle tissue. Leading experts from TUM, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), and Helmholtz Munich will present current research findings and discuss innovative solutions.
The symposium is organized by Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler, head of the Assisant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition, and Health. He emphasizes the event’s significance: “Weight-loss injections represent one of the biggest changes in obesity treatment, with major economic and pharmacological implications. However, there is a well-documented issue: patients not only lose body fat but also muscle mass. We want to explore this topic in depth and highlight which groups of people may be particularly affected.”
In addition to Prof. Dr. Köhler, Prof. Dr. Timo Müller, Director of the Institute for Diabetes and Obesity at Helmholtz Munich, will give a talk. A key contributor to the development of GLP-1 receptor agonists, he will share new insights into the regulation of energy and glucose metabolism through GLP-1-based polyagonists. Prof. Dr. Hanna Taipaleenmäki, Deputy Director of the Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine at LMU and Vice-Speaker of the HyperMet DFG Research Group on Muscle Hypertrophy and Atrophy, will discuss fat loss as a “side effect” of muscle growth. Further details on the program can be found here.
"Through the three cooperation partners LMU, TUM, and Helmholtz Center, a very good synergy is created. We want to bring together the various interest groups present at the Munich scientific hub. Our focus is on connecting different individuals and institutions researching similar metabolism-related topics. And in this context, we also want to consciously highlight the important role of sports and physical activity," explains Prof. Dr. Köhler.
The organizer also emphasizes that everyone interested is welcome: “The event is aimed at both private individuals from the sports and health sector and patients using weight-loss injections, as well as researchers, medical professionals, and specialists working with individuals who may potentially use these medications.” A registration for the symposium is possible at:
https://collab.dvb.bayern/spaces/TUM1122ms/pages/1306511373/Symposium+%C2%A0Weight+Loss+and+Skeletal+Muscle
Further information can be found at the following link: https://www.hs.mh.tum.de/exercisenutrition/veranstaltungen/symposium/
To the homepage of the Assistant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition, and Health
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Karsten Köhler
Assisant Professorship of Exercise, Nutrition, and Health
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 Munich
Phone: 089 289 24488
E-Mail: karsten.koehler(at)tum.de
Text: Jasmin Schol
Photos: private