Wegovy and Zepbound for Weight Loss: What You Need to Know
Success on weight loss medications greatly depends on diet and exercise, according to a recent report.
Ready to shed some pounds with medications like Wegovy and Zepbound? These GLP-1 drugs boast impressive weight loss results, but it's crucial to remember that they work best with proper nutrition, lifestyle support, and guidance.
In a warning issued by four major medical organizations, experts emphasized that neglecting nutrition and lifestyle changes could lead to muscle loss, weight regain, and high long-term costs when one stops taking GLP-1 medications. These organizations include the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society.
The report highlights that while GLP-1 medications show promise for long-term weight management, the majority of users discontinue the treatment after one and two years due to side effects, cost, or unsatisfactory results.
Navigating Diet and Nutrient Requirements
Before starting GLP-1 medications, work with your doctor to establish health-focused goals rather than solely targeting weight loss. It's essential to evaluate any potential stomach or bone issues that could trigger side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or muscle and bone loss.
Patient-dietitians can play a significant role in helping individuals achieve sustained weight loss during GLP-1 therapy by providing personalized nutritional support. The evidence suggests that when dietitians deliver medical nutrition therapy, it has been linked to improvements in weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar control.
To stay on track with GLP-1 treatment, users should start at the lowest dosage and gradually increase as needed. Remember, nausea is common, and this can trigger cravings for unhealthy, high-calorie foods that counteract weight loss. To keep on the right path, focus on small, frequent meals and choose minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods.
People following intermittent fasting or low-carb diets like the keto diet may require special precautions to avoid gastrointestinal side effects.
Boosting Nutrient Intake and Muscle Mass
As part of GLP-1 therapy, pay attention to your overall nutrient intake. Consider supplementing with essential nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, and multivitamins, and increase your protein intake by consuming foods such as fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds.
Maintaining muscle mass and bone density is vital while losing weight. To achieve this, do a whole-body strength training routine at least three times a week and engage in 150 minutes of moderate cardio exercise each week. Furthermore, focus on anti-inflammatory foods like colorful fruits and vegetables, garlic, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds to support joint and heart health.
By adopting a comprehensive approach that includes tailored nutrition and lifestyle changes, individuals can maximize the benefits of GLP-1 therapy while minimizing potential risks and costs.
"GLP-1s have the greatest chance of achieving lasting weight reduction when combined with strong nutritional guidance and lifestyle support," Emily A. Callahan, registered dietitian nutritionist and director of policy strategy for the Food is Medicine Institute, said.
- For effective use of GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, it's essential to focus on proper nutrition and lifestyle support in conjunction with professional guidance.
- The discontinuation of GLP-1 treatments is common due to side effects, cost, or unsatisfactory results, highlights a report from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society.
- Nutritionists and patient-dietitians can help individuals maintain sustainable weight loss during GLP-1 therapy by providing personalized nutritional support and medical nutrition therapy.
- While on GLP-1 therapy, it's crucial to start at the lowest dosage, avoid high-calorie foods that may trigger nausea, and focus on small, frequent meals of nutrient-dense foods.
- Intermittent fasters and those following low-carb diets like the keto diet may need special precautions to avoid gastrointestinal side effects.
- To boost nutrient intake, maintain muscle mass, and support joint and heart health during GLP-1 therapy, individuals should focus on essential nutrients like vitamin D, calcium, proteins from food sources, and anti-inflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, garlic, fatty fish, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
