Most people will lose a lot of weight on Ozempic--and that's its main aim as an anti-obesity medication. But as we (should) know, weight does not equal health. An overall nutritious diet is crucial even while losing weight on Ozempic. If you are aiming to optimize your health with a nutritious diet while you lose weight, here are 7 reasons why you should see a dietitian while on Ozempic.
7 Reasons You Should See a Dietitian While on Ozempic--Diet Matters
Weight loss involves muscle loss. Weight loss is not all adipose tissue. Almost anyone who loses a significant amount of weight will lose some muscle mass. While it is physiologically normal to lose some muscle mass while losing weight, excessive muscle loss is preventable. Additionally, muscle mass is metabolically healthy body tissue and functional, so there are good reasons to keep your muscle. Working with a dietitian can help you understand how much protein and other nutrients you need to prevent losing too much muscle mass.
Get adequate hydration. There are a few reasons why adequate hydration can be difficult while on Ozempic. For some people, decreased appetite also leads to decreased fluid intake. Additionally, nausea is common during the beginning stage of Ozempic treatment, and that can be another barrier to drinking enough. A dietitian can evaluate your fluid intake and help you strategize how to get more liquid if you are not getting enough.
Understand which nutrients you need. The decreased appetite that comes with Ozempic often leads people to eat mostly carbohydrates when they do eat. While carbohydrates are still essential for someone who is on Ozempic, this can come at the expense of other nutrients. A dietitian can help you understand which nutrients you need so that your diet is balanced.
Manage nausea. Nausea is very common when people start Ozempic and with each dose increase. While nutrition is not going to make the nausea go away completely, there are nutrition strategies that can help you manage and minimize your symptoms.
Learn how to meal planning. Due to the decreased appetite that comes with Ozempic, many people wonder what foods to prioritize at a meal. A dietitian can help you learn which types of foods to plan into your meals and which foods are most important to eat to make sure your nutrient intake is adequate.
Manage other health concerns. Many people who are taking Ozempic to lose weight also have other health conditions such as prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. Nutrition interventions can be used to manage all of those and other medical issues and mitigate their health consequences.
Increase your chances of expected outcomes. All the major studies on Ozempic and similar anti-obesity medications had all participants see a dietitian throughout the many months of the study, and some of their weight loss is attributable to that. Working with a dietitian offers you something medication can't: personalized nutrition recommendations.
Following a healthy eating pattern while on Ozempic is important. A healthy diet while on Ozempic can help you improve your overall health. Because health is way more than weight or a number on the scale, a good diet is important while taking Ozempic. Reach out me to see if we can work together while you are on Ozempic.