As many Americans continue to use weight loss drugs to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, pharmacists and experts have warned about the potential risks of patient “undernutrition,” and have shared dietary guidance with Newsweek for those taking the drugs.
GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy have become increasingly popular, with one in eight Americans using them as of March 2026, according to data from Statista. The rise in their use has coincided with a decline in U.S. obesity rates, although multiple factors are likely at play.
However, as they work in part by significantly reducing a person’s appetite, this can introduce “nutritional risks if patients are not intentional about what they eat,” Dr Fatima Cody Stanford, a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard University,
Patients can consume too little protein, leading to a loss of lean muscle mass during weight loss, Stanford said. They can also “fall short” on key micronutrients like vitamin D, calcium, iron and B vitamins due to reduced total intake, she added.
There can also be physical repercussions of “undernutrition” on GLP-1s. Skipping meals or going long periods without eating, can lead “to poor dietary balance and sometimes fatigue or dizziness,” Stanford said. She added that there is “also concern for loss of bone density and muscle mass if protein intake and resistance activity are inadequate.”
“These medications do not distinguish between fat and lean mass, so without proper nutrition, patients can lose both,” she said.
The potential gastrointestinal side effects of these drugs can also further limit food intake, Stanford said, which can “lead patients to avoid certain foods, sometimes worsening nutritional gaps.”
Therefore, while GLP-1 medication is known for being highly effective, experts warn patients need to ensure they are paying close attention to their dietary needs and wider health while using the drugs.
Sobia Qasim, a superintendent pharmacist at the online U.K. pharmacy Curely, also said that “when you’re naturally eating much smaller portions, every meal becomes more important.”
“The goal shouldn’t just be to lose weight, it should be to lose body fat while preserving muscle, strength and overall health,” she said.
What Foods Should You Eat While Using GLP-1s?
Stanford has explained there are several key principles that patients taking GLP-1s should follow. This includes “prioritizing protein” to preserve muscle mass, eating “small, regular meals even if hunger is low to avoid undernutrition,” staying well hydrated, limiting highly processed and sugary foods that offer “little nutritional value,” considering supplementation of certain vitamins, and pairing nutrition with resistance training, which is “essential to maintain muscle and metabolic health,” she said.
“Most importantly, GLP-1 medications should be viewed as part of a comprehensive treatment plan—not a standalone solution,” she said. “Nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral support remain foundational to achieving healthy and sustainable outcomes.”
Looking into the specifics, below pharmacists at Curely put together a list of the top 10 foods they believe patients using GLP-1s should be eating.
