5 Common Mistakes People On Ozempic Make That Can Sabotage Results

Bariatric physicians reveal what to avoid if you want the best results with the lowest risk of side effects.

If you’re currently taking a prescription weight loss medication such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda or Zepbound (or you’re considering taking one), you likely already know that it’s still important to eat a balanced diet of nutrient-rich foods. Ozempic (and drugs like it) aren’t magic. They won’t lead to long-lasting weight loss if you take them while eating a diet consisting of nutrient-void, ultra-processed foods.

But what about the less obvious food rules you might not know about? In addition to changing the types of foods you eat, meal timing and portion size also are important to think about. And that’s not all. Here, bariatric physicians who prescribe these types of medications share the five most common food mistakes to avoid.

Mistake No. 1: Not Reducing The Size Of Your Meals

Once you start taking a prescription weight loss medication, Dr. Muhammad Ghanem, a bariatric surgeon with the Orlando Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Institute, told HuffPost that it’s best to transition from eating three big meals a day to smaller, more frequent ones.

You know that sleepy feeling that hits you right after a big meal? Ghanem shared that this happens because a big meal causes a surge in blood sugar, which then leads to a surge in insulin to bring blood sugar levels back down (resulting in fatigue). “All these spikes and drops in blood sugar and insulin cause insulin resistance, which causes weight gain. This is why small, frequent meals maintain a more steady blood sugar level, which means less insulin resistance, which means more weight loss,” he said.