Eat This, Not That: Your Dietary Prescription When Taking Semaglutide

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic® and Wegovy®, has taken the world by storm and revolutionized obesity medicine. While semaglutide delivers impressive results, eating habits may determine your long-term success. 

Dr. Hitesh Amin, a leading weight loss surgeon at Transform Bariatrics in Greenbelt and Germantown, Maryland, offers a range of weight loss solutions, including medical weight loss with semaglutide.

As weight loss experts, we understand the critical role of lifestyle changes in sustaining results. This is true whether you lose weight with medicine or surgery. In this blog, we provide insights into diet choices when taking semaglutide.

How semaglutide works

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist, mimicking the actions of the GLP-1 hormone naturally produced in the body. The hormone slows digestion and signals to the brain, letting you know you’re full.

By enhancing GLP-1 activity, semaglutide helps you feel full longer, reducing intake and promoting weight loss. It also curbs appetite and food cravings.

However, semaglutide may cause side effects like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or nausea. These side effects and appetite suppression can make eating less appealing. 

While we appreciate how semaglutide works, proper nutrition is crucial for long-lasting results; by quieting the “food noise,” or the constant thoughts of food and desire to eat, semaglutide offers a unique opportunity to establish healthier eating habits and a better relationship with food.

Eat these foods

The dietary prescription for semaglutide is similar to what we recommend for folks following weight loss surgery. We encourage:

• High-protein foods
• Nonstarchy vegetables
• Whole grains
• Healthy fats
• Water

We first want you to get enough protein (poultry, eggs, fish, legumes) to maintain muscle mass. When you lose weight, you lose fat and muscle, which affects energy. Bumping up protein in the diet may help prevent the loss of too much muscle.

We encourage foods high in fiber, like vegetables and whole grains, to support gastrointestinal health and help with constipation. Drinking enough water is also important for keeping you regular and hydrated. 

Vegetable oils and avocados are healthy sources of fat that add flavor and provide calories and energy to support health. 

Limit these foods

We don’t have a food-to-avoid list for folks taking semaglutide. All foods fit when eating a balanced diet, but we recommend minimizing foods high in sugar and saturated fat, as well as heavily processed foods. 

These foods are calorie-dense and nutritionally poor. Given the effects semaglutide has on your appetite, every bite counts. Avoid filling up on empty-calorie food when you do eat. 

Are you having trouble reaching your weight goals? Our team is ready to help. Call our office today or request an appointment online. We can discuss semaglutide and other weight loss options and help you reach your healthy weight.