Café Sci - Weight, Muscle and Ageing: The Science Behind the New Weight-Loss Drugs

Dr Brendan Gabriel is taking the stage at The Sir Duncan Rice Library on Wednesday 28 October for a Café Sci talk on weight, muscle and ageing. It's one of those science nights that takes a headline you've probably seen all over the news and actually opens it up, and this one centres on the GLP-1 drugs that have become such a talking point lately.

If you've been following the stories, you'll know the names: Ozempic and Wegovy. They've completely changed how obesity is treated and helped millions lose weight, but there's a side to the story that doesn't get nearly as much airtime. When the weight comes off, it isn't just fat that goes — a significant amount of muscle mass disappears too. That's where Gabriel's talk picks up. He'll be looking at what actually happens to muscle during weight loss, why that matters so much for healthy ageing, and what can be done to stop it from happening in the first place.

It's not just a lecture on the drugs themselves, though. The conversation stretches into the practical side of things — exercise and nutrition — and looks at the emerging treatments that might help protect muscle while the weight comes off. If you've ever wondered why some people seem to hold onto their strength while others don't, or why muscle is such a big deal as we get older, this is exactly the kind of thing it'll get into.

The session is hosted by the Public Engagement with Research Team, and it runs from 18:00 to 19:00 at the library. Online booking is open, so you'll want to get your spot sorted before the night.