Clinical Evidence
17 peer-reviewed studies that inform how Lina works
What happens when you stop GLP-1 medication?
Participants who stopped semaglutide regained two-thirds of the weight they lost within a year. Building sustainable habits while on medication is critical — the drug alone isn't enough.
Wilding et al., JAMA, 2022
How much weight can semaglutide help you lose?
Semaglutide 2.4mg led to 14.9% body weight reduction over 68 weeks — but only when paired with lifestyle changes. The medication opens a window; daily habits determine what you do with it.
Wilding et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2021 (STEP 1)
How effective is tirzepatide for weight loss?
Tirzepatide (the ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound) achieved up to 22.5% weight reduction at the highest dose. Even with stronger medications, the need for daily habit support remains the same.
Jastreboff et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2022 (SURMOUNT-1)
Can you keep the weight off long-term?
Two years of sustained semaglutide use maintained 15.2% weight loss — but only with continued lifestyle support. Long-term success requires long-term daily habits, not just medication.
Garvey et al., Nature Medicine, 2022 (STEP 5)
How long does it really take to form a habit?
It takes an average of 66 days for a new behavior to become automatic — not 21 days as commonly believed. Lina's streak and check-in system is designed around this reality.
Lally et al., European Journal of Social Psychology, 2010
Does planning when you'll do something actually help?
People who plan exactly when and where they'll perform a behavior are 2-3x more likely to follow through. Lina's daily reminders and check-in prompts act as these "implementation intentions."
Gollwitzer, American Psychologist, 1999
Is daily tracking actually worth the effort?
Consistent self-monitoring is the single strongest predictor of successful weight management, improving outcomes by 50-100%. Tracking meals, water, protein, and mood every day is the foundation.
Burke et al., Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2011
How much protein do you need to protect your muscles?
1.2-1.6g of protein per kilogram of body weight preserves lean muscle mass during caloric deficit. Lina calculates your personalized protein goal using this evidence-based range.
Phillips & Van Loon, Journal of Sports Sciences, 2011
Why does protein keep you feeling fuller?
Higher protein intake increases satiety by 25-30% and preserves metabolically active tissue during weight loss. When your appetite is already reduced on GLP-1s, making every meal count for protein is essential.
Westerterp-Plantenga et al., British Journal of Nutrition, 2012
Can drinking water before meals help with weight loss?
Adults who drank 500ml of water before each meal lost 44% more weight over 12 weeks than those who didn't. Lina's water tracking and reminders support this simple, proven strategy.
Dennis et al., Obesity, 2010
What motivates people who keep the weight off?
People motivated by how they feel — energy, mood, confidence — maintain weight loss 3x longer than those focused only on the number on the scale. That's why Lina tracks non-scale victories.
Ryan & Deci, Contemporary Educational Psychology, 2000
Do people feel shame about taking weight loss medication?
66% of patients report feeling shame about using weight loss medication, often leading them to hide it and quit treatment early. Lina provides private, judgment-free daily support.
Rubino et al., Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2020
Why do small daily wins matter so much?
Celebrating small wins triggers dopamine release, making habit formation 2.5x more likely to stick. Lina's streak celebrations, check-in feedback, and milestone rewards are built on this.
Woolley & Fishbach, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 2018
Do digital tools actually improve GLP-1 adherence?
Digital support tools improved GLP-1 medication adherence by 23% compared to standard care alone. Simple reminders and injection tracking make a measurable difference.
Nguyen et al., Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 2021
How many people stop GLP-1 treatment within a year?
Only 44% of patients remained on their GLP-1 medication after 12 months. More than half stop treatment — daily support during the difficult early weeks is critical to staying on track.
Weiss et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2020
Does strength training matter on GLP-1 medications?
Combining resistance exercise with GLP-1 medication preserved significantly more lean muscle mass compared to medication alone. Strength training protects your body during rapid weight loss.
Lundgren et al., Diabetes Care, 2024
Should you exercise while on GLP-1 therapy?
Structured exercise programs alongside GLP-1 therapy improved body composition beyond what medication alone achieved. Tracking workouts helps you see exercise and medication working together.
Oppert et al., Obesity Reviews, 2023
Why daily support matters
GLP-1 medications work — but staying on them is harder than most people expect.
66%
of patients report feeling shame about using weight loss medication, leading many to hide what they're doing and quit treatment early.
Rubino et al., Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2020
4-6 wks
is when side effects peak and dropout rates spike. Without daily support during this window, many patients conclude the medication "isn't for them."
GLP-1 Clinical Literature Review
2/3
of the weight lost on GLP-1 medications is regained within a year of stopping. Building sustainable habits while on medication is critical.
Wilding et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2022
Lina fills the gap between appointments — we're there every day, when clinical care can't be.
How Lina builds lasting habits
The scale fluctuates daily. Non-scale victories are the more meaningful signs of real change.
Track a non-scale victory
Notice something good that has nothing to do with a number. More energy, jeans fitting differently, making it through the afternoon without sugar.
Woolley & Fishbach (2018): celebrating small wins makes habit formation 2.5x more likely.
Build pattern awareness
Your energy crashes without breakfast protein. Your mood lifts when you drink enough water. Lina surfaces these connections.
Burke et al. (2011): self-monitoring improves weight management outcomes by 50-100%.
Create daily consistency
One good day doesn't do much. A hundred ordinary days does. Lina's check-ins take less than a minute.
Lally et al. (2010): 66 days average for a behavior to become automatic.
Stack new habits
Attach new habits to ones you already have. Log protein while you eat breakfast. Check in while coffee brews.
Gollwitzer (1999): "when-then" planning increases follow-through by 2-3x.
Build health identity
You stop saying "I'm trying to be healthier" and start saying "I take care of my health." That shift comes from repeated action.
Oyserman (2006): connecting behavior to identity improves adherence by 40%.
Achieve sustainable outcomes
The habits carry the weight. Outcomes feel like side effects of how you live, not goals you're grinding toward.
Ryan & Deci (2000): intrinsic motivation predicts 3x better long-term maintenance.
Prepare for the plateau
Almost everyone hits a plateau between months 3-6. With tracking data, you can see habits working even when the scale isn't moving.
Thomas et al. (2014): patients who tracked through plateaus were 3x more likely to resume weight loss.
What Lina tracks
Clinically relevant data points — all user-reported and user-controlled
Daily check-ins
- ·Mood and energy levels
- ·Side effects (40+ common GLP-1 effects)
- ·Non-scale victories
- ·Sleep quality
Nutrition tracking
- ·Protein intake with personalized goals
- ·Water intake with personalized goals
- ·AI-powered meal logging and analysis
Medication adherence
- ·Injection tracking with site rotation
- ·Dose reminders and alarms
- ·Medication blood level modeling
Progress visualization
- ·Weight trends with smart smoothing
- ·Progress photos with side-by-side comparison
- ·Streak tracking for daily engagement
How we calculate your goals
Personalized targets based on published research
Protein Goals
Preserving muscle during GLP-1-induced weight loss matters. We use 1.2g protein per kg of current body weight — the middle of the 1.0-1.6g/kg range recommended for muscle preservation.
Minimum: 50g/day
Absolute floor for any adult
Maximum: 120g/day
Practical ceiling for GLP-1 appetite suppression
Phillips SM, et al., Am J Clin Nutr, 2016 · Westerterp-Plantenga MS, et al., Annu Rev Nutr, 2009
Calorie Goals
For users who opt in, Lina uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation — the most widely validated formula for estimating BMR — with a moderate 500 kcal deficit.
Sedentary
1.2
Lightly active
1.375
Moderately active
1.55
Very active
1.725
Note: GLP-1 medications already reduce appetite, so a moderate deficit is appropriate. We never push toward extreme restriction.
Ethnicity-adjusted BMI
Standard BMI cutoffs were developed for White European populations. Lina uses research-based ethnicity-specific thresholds reflecting equivalent cardiometabolic risk.
White
30
Black
30
South Asian
23.9
Chinese
26.9
Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2021
Health Score
AI meal analysis gives each logged meal a score from 0-100 — informative, not judgmental
70-100
Nutritious
High protein, fiber, whole foods
40-69
Moderate
Some processed elements
0-39
Consider Alternatives
High sugar, fried, ultra-processed
Important: The score helps guide healthier choices — it's not a medical assessment. The goal is to inform without shaming.
How we can work together
Our clinical advisor, Dr. Danna Kashlan (Johns Hopkins-affiliated), helps ensure our approach aligns with best practices in obesity medicine.
Patient recommendation
Recommend Lina as a between-visit support tool. Free to start, premium on subscription.
Content collaboration
Interested in contributing educational content? Everything is reviewed for compliance.
Research partnerships
We're open to research collaborations on GLP-1 patient outcomes.
Clinical feedback
See something that concerns you? We want to know.
To discuss any of these opportunities:
hello@findlina.comFrequently asked questions
Common questions from clinicians and patients
