6. Myth: It’s Okay That I’m Not Eating as Much Protein if I’m Taking a GLP-1
Even though you may be eating less overall — GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus work in part by reducing appetite, slowing digestion, and helping you feel full sooner — you may need to ramp up your protein intake, depending on your calorie goals.
Here’s why: If you’re rapidly losing weight and your protein intake is too low, your body may start to break down muscle along with fat, which reduces the body’s lean muscle mass.
“A lot of [people on GLP-1s] are losing large amounts of muscle mass,” says Kranz. Along with eating more protein, you should also try to increase your exercise levels to preserve muscle mass, she adds.
Whenever possible, stick to protein-dense foods such as eggs, Greek yogurt, fish, chicken, tofu, beans, and cottage cheese; these may be easier to tolerate in smaller portions.
Read the full article here
