Weight loss is a famous side effect of Ozempic, the Type 2 diabetes drug, but patients often find they must avoid certain foods on Ozempic.
It’s a similar story with Wegovy, the form of Ozempic approved for weight loss.
Both contain semaglutide, a synthetic version of a hormone known as GLP-1, which the body releases into the intestine when people eat food, TODAY.com previously reported.
The hormone tells the brain you’ve had a meal, leading to reduced appetite and hunger. But it also slows down stomach emptying, which can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
“Food remains in the stomach for a longer period of time.
This is one mechanism that contributes to weight loss with this class of medications- people using them have a prolonged sense of satiety and greater portion control,” Dr. Christopher McGowan, an obesity medicine physician and founder of True You Weight Loss in Cary, North Carolina, tells TODAY.com.
“(But) this is exactly why many patients experience nausea and even vomiting with the GLP-1 medications.”
Some foods may stay in the stomach for many hours or even days when taking these drugs, he notes.
Greasy, high-fat foods: They are slower to digest and tend to stay in the stomach the longest, McGowan says.
The longer food remains in the stomach, the more likely a person is to experience nausea and other unpleasant symptoms, such as belching, excessive fullness and vomiting, he adds.
One Ozempic patient previously told TODAY.com she could once eat a whole pizza, but after using the medication, she’d feel “completely sick” after eating two slices because it was too much grease. Another patient could no longer tolerate hoagies.
Fruits and vegetables that contain significant roughage, or the indigestible portion of food. McGowan says they’re also slow to exit the stomach and can be problematic. The list includes stringy raw fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple or celery, and those with a tough peel, such as an apple.
Gas-forming vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions and asparagus can also lead to excessive, unpleasant gas, he adds.
The most common side effects of Ozempic and Wegovy include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation, according to Novo Nordisk, the company that makes both drugs.
Besides avoiding fried or greasy foods, patients should also skip sweet foods if they experience nausea, Novo Nordisk advises.
Registered dietitian Emily Rubin, who works at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, also offered these tips to reduce nausea:
- Don’t eat or cook strong-smelling food.
- Don’t eat too quickly and don’t have a large drink with meals.
- Don’t lie down soon after eating.
- Don’t wear tight clothes around your waist.
