No specific foods need to be avoided while taking Ozempic and there is no fixed Ozempic diet or meal plans — one less thing for you to worry about! For certain people, carbohydrates, sugary, high-fat, heavily processed and calorie-dense foods are off-limits when dieting.
According the the manufacturer, patients taking Ozempic® who experience nausea should consider the following tips: Eat slowly, and eat smaller meals. Eat foods that are light and bland. Drink clear or ice-cold drinks (like water or unsweetened tea)
There's no “Ozempic diet” or foods you absolutely can't eat while taking Ozempic. But since Ozempic can cause stomach upset and other gut side effects, you may want to avoid foods that can worsen or trigger these symptoms. You also want to avoid foods that can raise your blood sugar too quickly.
Why can't I eat much on Ozempic? Ozempic and many other semaglutide-based medications work to suppress your appetite by influencing hormones in your body.
Once you begin using Ozempic, some people can find it takes several weeks to see any weight loss, yet others may see some weight loss within a week or 2. While it can be difficult, try to remain patient — change looks different for everyone.
Ozempic produces the same hormone, which is why it works so well to treat diabetes or insulin resistance. It also reduces your appetite by sending signals to your brain that you've eaten and feel full, giving you a reduced appetite.
Ozempic can cause nausea and vomiting if taken after eating foods high in fat or sugar. It is recommended that you take Ozempic before meals, rather than after, to minimise any potential side effects from eating high-fat or high-sugar foods.
The most common side effect with Ozempic is nausea and occurs in about 15% to 20% of people. Others include vomiting (5% to 9%), diarrhea (8%), stomach-area pain (6% to 7%), and constipation (3% to 7%).
Food that is high in sugar may also increase the risk of nausea or other possible gastrointestinal side effects when taking Ozempic. If you have type 2 diabetes or other health conditions, including elevated A1C levels, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, you may want to avoid sugary foods for health reasons.
You may need a higher dosage of Ozempic
The same holds true for Ozempic's weight loss results. People taking higher doses of Ozempic tend to lose more weight. In the landmark study we cited above, people lost 7% of their body weight, on average, within a year and a half of taking 1mg of semaglutide.
The bottom line. Ozempic is an injectable medication that's used to balance blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. It should be taken once a week, with or without food, at any time of the day.
On average, a user can lose about 3 to 5% of their body weight after using Ozempic for a month regularly. This equates to about 4 to 6 pounds on average. Using a higher potency of the drug may result in more weight loss, but it isn't recommended that you start taking it right away.
An Ozempic diet is one that also helps prevent high blood sugar. If you're taking Ozempic, you should aim to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and protein-rich foods in your diet. Avoid refined grains, large amounts of added sugar, excessive alcohol intake, and fried foods while taking Ozempic.
Can I enjoy a drink while on Ozempic medication? The short answer is yes: You can drink alcohol while taking Ozempic.
Patients trying to lose weight with either drug should work with a dietitian for a guided meal plan, but in general, they should aim to eat 1,200 to 1,800 calories a day depending on their initial weight, Rubin says.
The most common side effects of Ozempic, according to the drug's website, are nausea, stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, told CBS News that the drugs "are a well-established class of medicines, which have demonstrated long-term safety in clinical trials.
You start feeling those usual hunger pangs again, and consequently, you may start eating more to satisfy that hunger. An increase in your consumption can lead to the regaining of weight that was lost. A 2022 study found that most individuals gain weight back a year after stopping the medication.
The drugs may also affect your sleep, which can tank your energy levels. And adverse GI events — the most commonly listed side effect of the drugs — can easily cut into your sleep, making you feel tired.
For example, greasy foods can slow down the absorption of Ozempic, making it less effective at controlling your appetite and blood sugar levels. Similarly, sugary foods can cause a spike in blood sugar levels, counteracting the effect of Ozempic and potentially leading to weight gain.
Ozempic isn't approved for weight loss. But because of how it works, some people taking Ozempic lose weight as a side effect. If you don't have diabetes, taking Ozempic for weight loss is considered an off-label use. Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is approved to help people manage their weight.