Weight-loss injections & tablets (GLP-1 therapy) and nutrition management

What is GLP-1? The natural power in our body and the drug treatments

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone our intestines release naturally: it regulates blood sugar and sends the brain the “I am full” signal. It is possible to increase your own GLP-1 release with high-fibre foods, good-quality protein and regular eating habits.

In obesity and metabolic disease in particular, however, the level of GLP-1 the body produces itself may not be enough. This is where GLP-1 analogues, given as an injection or in oral form as a tablet, offer a very positive course in the treatment of obesity, by slowing gastric emptying and bringing the appetite mechanism under control.

A vital warning: medical supervision and the health of the pancreas

Important note: These medicines and tablets must, absolutely and without exception, be started under medical supervision and on prescription. Using them on hearsay or without a prescription is extremely risky for your health.

Especially if there is a health problem with the pancreas or a suspicion of one (a history of pancreatitis, for example), the health of the pancreas must be assessed before treatment begins, with ultrasound imaging (an ultrasound scan) and detailed blood tests. Without your medical history and your doctor’s approval, treatments of this kind should never be undertaken.

Is the medicine enough on its own? Why medical nutrition therapy is essential

GLP-1-based medicines or tablets are not magic wands that take the weight off by themselves. The medicine makes the process easier; but to reach lasting results and to prevent the loss of muscle mass, medical nutrition therapy and a change of lifestyle have to be at the centre of the process.

1. A protein-focused diet to prevent the loss of muscle mass

Muscle mass can be lost during periods of rapid weight gain and loss, or when appetite is strongly suppressed. Taking in enough good-quality protein is critically important for keeping up your metabolic rate and heading off muscle loss.

2. Managing the side effects

Preventing the digestive side effects (gastrointestinal side effects) often met with in GLP-1 treatments — nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea — is directly related to your nutrition strategy:

• Small portions should be preferred, so as not to overtax the stomach.
• You should stop eating at the first moment you feel full, even if your plate is not empty.
• Fatty, fried, strong-smelling and heavily spiced foods that can trigger nausea should be avoided.
• Daily water intake should not be neglected, so that the body's fluid balance is maintained.

3. Lasting change of lifestyle

Whether the weight that has been lost stays off once the medication is finished depends on the healthy eating habits gained during this time.

GLP-1 treatment, in injection or tablet form, gives healthy, safe and lasting weight management when it is combined with the right nutrition protocol, under medical supervision and with the guidance of a professional nutrition counsellor.