Foods to Avoid When Taking Wegovy

Wegovy (semaglutide) has rapidly become one of the most effective, popular weight-loss medications worldwide. It comes in the form of a once-weekly injectable that helps regulate appetite and blood sugar levels, making it easier for people to lose weight and keep it off.

Wegovy has shown excellent weight loss results in clinical trials, such as an average of 14.9% body weight loss over 68 weeks in the STEP 1 trial and sustained weight loss over two years in the STEP 5 trial.

Impressive results aside, to get the most out of Wegovy and feel your best while taking it, it's essential to pair the medication with a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.

Certain foods can slow your progress, cause unpleasant side effects, or even work against weight loss benefits. On the positive side, smart food choices accentuate Wegovy’s effectiveness, helping you reach your goals faster.

So, read on to learn what foods to limit or avoid while taking Wegovy to create a diet plan that supports your health, enhances your results, and helps you feel great.

Why Diet Matters on Wegovy

The right food choices will support your weight loss journey on Wegovy.

The STEP clinical trials, the primary studies in Wegovy's development, required participants to reduce their calorie intake and increase their physical activity.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wouldn't those changes alone lead to weight loss, even without Wegovy?"

However, the group taking Wegovy lost two to three times more weight than the placebo group, who made the same diet and lifestyle changes without taking Wegovy.

This shows the importance of combining Wegovy with dietary changes.

Foods to Limit or Avoid on Wegovy

Here are the main types of foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, including some you should be extra careful of:

High-Fat Foods

First off, it's best to limit your intake of high-fat foods, particularly those high in saturated and trans fats.

This isn’t just about the high calories associated with such foods.

Wegovy can slow down gastric emptying, meaning food stays in your stomach longer, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.

Be Wary Of

• Fried foods, such as chips and fried chicken
• Full-fat dairy products, including whole milk, cream, and cheese
• Processed snacks like cookies, pastries, other baked goods, and creamy sauces and dressings

Sugary Foods and Drinks

While Wegovy helps regulate blood sugar, consuming excessive sugar can still lead to spikes and crashes.

These fluctuations can trigger cravings and overeating, undermining your weight loss efforts.

Be Wary Of

• Sugary beverages like sodas, sweetened teas, and fruit juices
• Sweets, chocolates, sugary cereals, baked goods with high sugar content, and sweetened yogurts

Highly Processed Foods

Many processed foods, particularly those high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium, can hinder weight loss efforts. They tend to be high in calories, unhealthy fats, added sugars, and sodium while low in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Be Wary Of

• Fast food and takeaways
• Frozen dinners
• Packaged snacks like crisps and crackers
• Processed meats like hot dogs, low-quality reformed meat, and chicken

Alcohol

It’s very easy to underestimate the calories in alcohol. While an occasional drink may be okay, excessive alcohol consumption will likely slow your weight loss progress.

Alcohol is high in empty calories – sometimes more than 200 calories a drink – and can lead to poor food choices when you’re hungover!

Moreover, alcohol can interact with Wegovy, increasing the risk of side effects like nausea and dizziness.

Be Wary Of

• Almost all alcohol is high in calories. The worst offenders are cocktails, beer, and wine.

Choose These Foods Instead

Understanding what to include in your diet is just as important as knowing what to avoid.

Focus on nutrient-dense foods that keep you feeling full and satisfied:

• Lean Proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, and legumes are excellent sources of protein that support muscle maintenance and keep you feeling full longer.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, fruits and vegetables are excellent for weight loss. Berries, apples, spinach, broccoli, and carrots are just a few examples of the most nutrient-dense options.
• Whole Grains: Unlike refined grains, whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat bread, and oatmeal provide fiber and nutrients that support weight loss and overall health.
• Healthy Fats: While it's important to limit unhealthy fats, incorporating healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil can help keep you satisfied and support nutrient absorption.
• Low-Fat Dairy: Dairy products like skim milk, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese provide calcium and protein while low in fat and calories.

Incorporating these foods into balanced meals and snacks will support your weight loss journey and provide the nutrients your body needs to thrive.

As a rule of thumb, aim for a colorful plate at each meal, with half your plate filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with whole grains.

The Bottom Line

While Wegovy is a powerful weight-loss tool, it undoubtedly works best when combined with a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.

Conversely, making poor dietary choices could delay or even stop your progress.

By limiting high-fat, sugary, and processed foods and focusing on lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, you'll set yourself up for faster, lasting weight loss.

Everyone's journey is unique. Put time and effort into developing an eating plan that works for you, and don't hesitate to seek support when needed.

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If your order is approved before 3 p.m. on a weekday, our UK-registered pharmacy will dispense and dispatch your medicine the same day for next-day discreet delivery.

Our pharmacy stocks 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg doses of Wegovy Injections. 

Authored & Reviewed By

Dr Giuseppe Aragona

Doctor

Dr. Giuseppe utilises his extensive experience in general practice to ensure the accuracy and safety of the website's content.

Published on: 19/08/2024 Reviewed on: 19/08/2024