GLP-1 medications have been revolutionary in weight loss. Whereas the traditional methods of diet and exercise have a weight loss rate of about 9%, GLP-1’s like Ozempic and Mounjaro have a weight loss rate of over 25%- the only thing that is comparable is weight loss surgery.
In a nation that is evermore struggling with their weight, this could be a light at the end of the tunnel that can help us with preventing all sorts of medical conditions in the future; so much so that the NHS has announced it’s roll out to a select few extremely high risk individuals from June 2025.
However, there are some dangers to these jabs I see as a dietitian; including one that is going to surprise you.
Malnutrition in GLP-1 Patients is Rising
For people who have struggled to lose weight in the past, the idea of becoming malnourished often does not even cross their minds when they start GLP-1’s. However, the sudden freedom they find from food noise and hunger, alongside their quick satiety, means that they may not be eating enough.
In my own clinic, I often see people on GLP-1’s subsiding on less than 750kcals per day. That is not enough food. Within this 750kcals, they need to get enough of the 34 essential vitamins and minerals. They need to get enough protein to prevent muscle wastage. They need to get enough healthy fats to continue to produce adequate hormones and build their cells. It is simply not enough calories in which to do that.
This is what is leading to the rise in “ozempic face”, where people look visibly wasted and malnourished. People are not getting enough nutrition within their diets to maintain a healthy body and prevent muscle loss.
It is also leading to numerous individuals requiring nutritional supplementation or replenishment to fix an overt deficiency caused by lack of nutrition; iron deficiency anaemia being the most common.
It is not enough to simply just eat less of what you were eating previously. You need to ensure to prioritise eating protein, alongside nutrient dense foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, pulses, wholegrains, nuts and seeds, to ensure you’re getting enough vitamins, minerals and fibre too.
Gastrointestinal issues
Many people report a significant amount of constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, nausea and reflux since starting a GLP-1, and for good reason. One of the main ways GLP-1’s work is to slow down your digestion; doing so can dry out your stools, leading to constipation, or could equally give your gut microbiome a field day on the food for longer, leading to diarrhoea and gas. Equally, slowing down stomach emptying can cause reflux or nausea as food is in the stomach for longer.
Whatever the symptom, diet is the key thing to utilise here to change that and help manage the symptoms experienced. Consuming more fibre (particularly the soluble kind, found in oats, flax, chia, fruits and veggies) can help manage all of these symptoms; but fibre can fill you up, and if you’re already not eating enough, that can exacerbate the nutrition issue.
Pancreatitis
One of the rarer, but more serious complications in GLP-1 medications is pancreatitis; an extremely painful condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed and can cause a fever and vomiting. It is a serious condition, and absolutely should be treated as an emergency.
It must be clear that if you experience sudden and severe pain in your stomach, you must attend hospital as soon as possible. No dietary fix will work here; you need urgent medical attention.
Of course, there are many more side effects that can occur with GLP-1’s; however, malnutrition and GI distress are the ones I see most, and pancreatitis is the most serious. Which other side effects would you like me to cover? Leave them in the comments below!
Photo credit: UnSplash with thanks.
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