What Foods Should I Eat When Taking Wegovy?

Wegovy is a prescription medication that can aid in weight management. Eating certain foods while taking Wegovy can help support the medication’s benefits, minimize possible side effects, and promote overall health and well-being. Understanding how Wegovy works can help you make food choices that help you feel your best.

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What Is Wegovy?

Wegovy is a brand-name GLP-1 medication that helps with weight management. This medication is indicated for adults and children over 12 years.

The medication comes as an injectable solution in pre-filled injection pens. Once a week, a person taking Wegovy self-injects the medication into their abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The medication can be taken with or without food. The key is to take it at the same time each week.

Wegovy was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 and has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials. However, like all other medications, Wegovy can have side effects. During testing, adults taking Wegovy lost an average of 15% of their starting weight.

How Wegovy works

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Wegovy. It is a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). When you eat, your body secretes GLP-1 hormone to regulate your blood sugar level and manage your appetite. 

When a person takes Wegovy, the medication binds to the same receptors in the body that GLP-1 normally binds to. This helps increase the activity GLP-1 has on the body, which can lead to several effects that help with weight management.  

An effect of Wegovy is slowing down the rate at which food moves through the stomach. This can make you feel full for longer after eating.

Wegovy can also help reduce the amount of glucose (sugar) your liver produces which can help to lower blood sugar levels. Inclusion of lifestyle and dietary changes are also necessary to help control blood sugars. Stabilizing blood sugars by including a healthy protein along with carbohydrates will help prevent blood sugar swings and potential cravings. 

It is important to note that Wegovy is a tool that should be used alongside lifestyle and dietary changes. Using Wegovy without making these changes may not result in achieving your long-term weight management goals.

Foods to Eat While Taking Wegovy

Eating certain foods while taking Wegovy can help support the medication’s benefits, minimize possible side effects, and promote overall health and well-being. 

Work with a dietitian with Nourish and develop a personalized eating plan that supports your weight management goals while taking Wegovy -- all covered by insurance.

Fruits and vegetables

Eating fruits and vegetables is a great choice while taking Wegovy. These foods are high in fiber which promotes feelings of fullness and satiety. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for your overall health and well-being. 

Whole grains

Whole grains are another beneficial food to eat when taking Wegovy. They are nutrient-dense and high in fiber which can help you feel full for longer. Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, and whole-wheat bread can help slow down digestion and prevent overeating. Whole grains are also a great source of complex carbohydrates, which give you sustained energy throughout the day. 

Protein-rich foods

Eating protein-rich foods while taking Wegovy is important. Protein is an essential nutrient your body needs for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in your body. Eating protein-rich foods such as lean meats, legumes, poultry, tofu, and fish can help maintain your lean muscle mass while you lose weight. These foods are also low in carbohydrates and sugar, which helps keep your blood sugar balanced and promotes weight loss. 

Eating a Balanced Diet with Wegovy 

Eating a balanced diet while taking Wegovy helps ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs for optimal functioning. It also supports the medication’s weight loss and blood sugar control benefits and may help decrease unwanted side effects.

A balanced diet typically includes eating a variety of foods from all the major food groups. These include:

• Fruits and vegetables.
• Whole grains.
• Lean proteins.
• Healthy fats or dairy.

Side Effects of Wegovy 

The most common side effects of Wegovy include:

• Nausea.
• Diarrhea.
• Vomiting.
• Constipation.
• Stomach pain.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Dizziness.
• Bloating.
• Belching or gas.
• Stomach flu.
• Heartburn.
• Runny nose or sore throat.

Wegovy may also cause some less common but more severe side effects:

• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis): Symptoms may include stomach pain that may radiate to the back with or without vomiting.
• Gallbladder problems: Symptoms may include upper stomach pain, fever, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or clay-colored stool.
• Hypoglycemia: Symptoms may include dizziness, light-headedness, blurred vision, irritability, anxiety, mood changes, slurred speech, sweating, hunger, confusion or drowsiness, shakiness, weakness, headache, fast heartbeat, or feeling jittery. This is a medical emergency, call 911.
• Kidney problems (kidney failure): Symptoms may include decreased urination, dark urine, swelling in lower legs.
• Serious allergic reaction: Symptoms may include swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, problems breathing or swallowing, severe itching or rash, rapid heartbeat, feeling dizzy or faint. This is a medical emergency, call 911.
• Changes in vision in people with type 2 diabetes: Symptoms may include blurred vision or other changes to vision.
• Increase in heart rate: Symptoms may include heart racing or pounding that may last for several minutes.
• Depression or thoughts of suicide: Symptoms may include changes in mood, behaviors, thoughts, or feelings. 

Call your doctor right away if you have thoughts of harming yourself or are experiencing symptoms of a serious side effect.

Certain people should not take Wegovy. These include:

• People with a personal or family history of thyroid cancer, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).
• People with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
• People with an allergy to semaglutide or any of the other ingredients in Wegovy.
• People who are planning to be pregnant, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.

Get nutrition guidance from a weight loss nutritionist with Nourish.