Malnutrition risk with GLP-1 medication use

GLP (glucagon-like peptide) medications such as Wegovy or Zepbound have revolutionized our ability to treat medical obesity and overweight and help prevent complications with other major organs such as the heart, liver, kidney, and even skin. But needs to be discussed more openly is the risk of malnutrition.

Imagine if you had to cut your caloric intake in half (or even more) and had to get in all the same nutrition (and fluids!) into your body. Then imagine if you lost your appetite to eat. This is the challenge for many people who are on GLP-1 medications that lead to increased satiation (feeling fuller faster) and satiation (feeling fuller longer). Suddenly, people living with obesity whose goals were to eat fewer calories per day are now struggling to get in enough of the right type of calories due to significantly reduced hunger and appetite. While many people feel better overall, whether physically and/or healthwise, some may be malnourished with not enough intake of protein, vitamins, and fluids.

Nutritional and behavioral support along with guidance from an experienced healthcare provider are essential in the treatment of medical obesity and overweight. The British Medicine Journal published an excellent opinion piece by Dr. Ellen Fallows, who advocates for nutritional assessment in comprehensive obesity care to avoid malnutrition (click HERE to read the article). As an obesity specialist and clinical researcher, I strongly agree with this opinion. We all can learn more about nutrition and how to optimize or supplement our current food intake for improved health and weight control.