Foods to Avoid When Taking Wegovy

Weight loss injections such as Wegovy are extremely popular in the UK, thanks largely to their impressive success stories and stunning transformations. That being said, they’re not miracle drugs and cannot achieve substantial results by themselves.

Successful Wegovy treatment also depends on meaningful lifestyle changes, such as a balanced diet and regular exercise. While weight loss is indeed possible without these commitments, you won’t see the types of numbers recorded in respected clinical trials while just using the medication alone.

There are several reasons why diet is important on Wegovy, including the fact that it helps to maintain muscle mass, can reduce side effects, and perhaps prevent weight gain when coming off the treatment. With this in mind, what should you eat, and what are the foods to avoid when taking Wegovy? 

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Do You Need to Diet on Wegovy?

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, promotes weight loss by suppressing appetite and food intake. People on Wegovy typically experience a sharp reduction in food cravings, which makes it far easier to stick to a low-calorie diet. Although it may seem like an effortless way to lose weight, you still need to pay attention to what you eat while on Wegovy.

Long-term weight management often requires a lifestyle overhaul, with heavy emphasis on diet and physical activity. Adopting healthy habits during Wegovy treatment can help you maintain your lower weight after you stop taking the medication. In contrast, people who rely on weight loss injections alone frequently regain weight after they stop treatment.

A balanced diet and regular exercise can also improve your overall health outcomes on Wegovy. People on weight loss injections typically lose a lot of body fat, but they also lose muscle mass. Reduced muscle mass is associated with other health problems like poorer bone health, a lower metabolic rate, and a loss of strength and mobility. Therefore, maintaining muscle mass is key to getting the best results from Wegovy treatment.

Finally, certain foods can exacerbate the gastrointestinal side effects that many people experience from weight loss injections. For example, indulging in fatty and sugary foods on Wegovy can increase your risk of symptoms like diarrhoea, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Eating a balanced, healthy diet on Wegovy can improve your long-term health outcomes and reduce the uncomfortable side effects of weight loss injections. But what are the foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, and what should you be eating instead?

Why Diet Matters on Wegovy

The food you eat while taking Wegovy can have a large impact on your weight loss success. To highlight this, the STEP 3 clinical trial had participants put on a reduced diet with exercise, with some given Wegovy (semaglutide) and others a placebo. Results found that those taking Wegovy experienced an average body weight loss of 14.9% compared to just 2.4% with the placebo. 

What Not to Eat on Wegovy

There are no forbidden foods on Wegovy, but certain foods can worsen side effects and hamper your long-term weight management goals. Foods to avoid when taking Wegovy include ultra-processed foods, fatty and sugary foods, alcohol, fizzy drinks, and spicy foods.

Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs)

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), such as crisps, cakes, takeaways, ready meals, and processed meats are the first things you should eliminate from your diet during Wegovy treatment. They are energy-dense and highly palatable, so you can easily eat more calories than intended when snacking on UPFs.

Research has found that people who eat a diet high in processed foods consume about 500 more calories per day than those who eat an unprocessed diet. Therefore, avoiding UPFs can contribute to a lower calorie intake and better weight loss results on Wegovy.

High-Fat Foods

Fat is very energy-dense and contains 9 calories per gram, so eating lots of fatty foods can slow the rate of weight loss on Wegovy. Another reason to avoid high-fat meals is that they can worsen the gastrointestinal side effects of weight loss injections. This is because fat takes longer to digest than other types of food, so it lingers in your stomach and exacerbates nausea and vomiting. Foods to avoid include fried foods (e.g., chips and fried chicken), full-fat dairy products, processed snacks, and baked goods. 

Sugary Foods

Like fatty foods, high-sugar foods add a lot of calories to your diet and can counteract the weight loss benefits of Wegovy. Sugary drinks can also upset your stomach on Wegovy, and may increase gastrointestinal side effects like diarrhoea and nausea. Items to be wary of include sweets, chocolates, sugary cereals, baked goods with high sugar content, and sweetened yoghurts.

Alcohol

Drinking alcohol while on Wegovy can worsen gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and vomiting. It can also increase your risk of hypoglycemia, or very low blood sugar, which is a potential side effect of semaglutide. 
Fortunately, many people find it easy to avoid alcohol on Wegovy. Research has found a link between semaglutide and reduced alcohol consumption, suggesting Wegovy may suppress the desire to drink.

Carbonated Drinks

Fizzy drinks may make some of Wegovy’s side effects, like nausea, bloating, and indigestion, worse. Carbonated beverages that also have a high sugar content can further exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms and add empty calories to your diet.

Spicy Foods

Clinical guidelines recommend that people on Wegovy avoid spicy foods to reduce the severity of gastrointestinal side effects. Spicy foods may trigger symptoms like nausea and acid reflux, and may make others, like diarrhoea, worse.

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What Should You Eat Instead?

So, you have an idea of the foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, but what should you be eating instead? Our recommendation is to focus on nutrient-dense foods that keep you feeling full and satisfied, such as:

• Lean Proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, and legumes are excellent sources of protein that support muscle maintenance and keep you feeling full longer.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fibre, fruits and vegetables are excellent for weight loss. Berries, apples, spinach, broccoli, and carrots are just a few examples of the most nutrient-dense options.
• Whole Grains: Unlike refined grains, whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat bread, and oatmeal provide fibre and nutrients that support weight loss and overall health.
• Healthy Fats: While it's essential to limit unhealthy fats, incorporating healthy fats from sources such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil can help keep you satisfied and support nutrient absorption.
• Low-Fat Dairy: Dairy products like skim milk, Greek yoghurt, and cottage cheese provide calcium and protein while being low in fat and calories.

Incorporating these foods into balanced meals and snacks will support your weight loss journey and provide the nutrients your body needs to thrive.

As a general rule, aim for a colourful plate at each meal, with half of your plate filled with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with whole grains.

What is the Best Diet to Follow When On Wegovy?

A balanced diet is critical for Wegovy users, as significantly reducing your food intake can make you more susceptible to nutritional deficiencies. One study found that 13% of people on weight loss injections had some sort of deficiency within 6 months of starting treatment.

You can mitigate this risk by incorporating more nutrient-dense foods into your diet, such as:

• Lean protein (like fish, chicken, and beans)
• Fruits and vegetables (e.g., leafy greens, apples, and tomatoes)
• Whole grains (such as quinoa and barley)

You may also want to supplement your diet with protein shakes and multivitamins. The warning signs of nutrient deficiency include:

• Unusual levels of fatigue
• Excessive hair loss
• Flaky or itchy skin
• Muscle weakness
• Slow healing of wounds
• Unusual bruising

If you are concerned about any of the symptoms you experience with Wegovy, approach a licensed clinician for guidance.

Wegovy

Rated 0 out of 5 based on 0 reviews

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• Approved Weight Loss treatment
• Weekly injection
• Reduces risk of heart attack & stroke

• Discreet delivery next working day
• Online prescription - No doctor visit

Prices from £129.99 Review More Prices

Start Order More Info

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Wegovy Eating Tips for Success

You may need to make significant dietary changes when taking Wegovy to maximise the medication’s weight loss effects and to stay healthy while losing weight. Some tips for eating well on Wegovy include:

• Choose nutrient-dense foods like lean protein, leafy vegetables, and whole grains
• Avoid fatty, sugary, and highly processed foods
• Incorporate regular physical activity into your routine
• Set realistic goals for weight loss and exercise progress
• Track your weight loss regularly

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s no one-size-fits-all template for the perfect Wegovy diet, so finding what works best for you may require some trial and error. As well as knowing the foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, you may still be curious about how many calories you should eat and how to deal with potential side effects. We’ll explore the answers to these subjects and others below.

How Many Calories a Day Should I Eat on Wegovy?

Cutting calories is essential for weight loss on Wegovy, but there are no specific guidelines for calorie intake. Clinicians recommend maintaining a deficit of at least 500 calories per day for effective weight loss, and a total intake of 1,200 - 1,800 calories per day.

The exact number of calories you need will depend on your personal weight loss goals. Tracking your progress and reducing your calorie intake can help you lose weight more quickly. You may also want to increase your calorie intake if you feel you are losing weight too rapidly, or don’t think you are eating enough to get adequate nutrition.

Why Am I Taking Wegovy but Not Losing Weight?

Not losing weight on Wegovy could be due to one of two factors: either you are not taking a high enough dose, or you are consuming more calories than you need. Fatty, sugary and processed foods are energy-dense and contain lots of calories. If they make up a large part of your diet, this may counteract Wegovy’s weight loss effects.

Exercise is also key to successful Wegovy treatment, and if you’re not losing weight, you may need to increase your physical activity level.

If you have just started taking Wegovy, you may need to wait until the dose increases (from 2.5 mg to 5 mg and beyond) until you see significant changes to your appetite and weight.

How to Deal with Wegovy Side Effects?

Gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea affect a significant proportion of Wegovy users. In most cases, these symptoms flare up at the start of treatment and during dose increases and wear off within a few days. You could manage these symptoms with dietary changes, such as avoiding fatty and sugary foods, alcohol, fizzy drinks, and spicy foods.

Pay attention to which foods trigger the side effects, and sip water frequently to avoid dehydration. If any of your symptoms are severe or persistent, reach out to a licensed clinician for advice.

How Can Prescription Doctor Support Your Weight Loss Journey?

Achieving weight loss success takes a great deal of grit and determination. There will be a mixture of high and low points that may seem tough to navigate. This is where Prescription Doctor can help.

Since we were founded in 2013, we’ve made it our mission to take the hassle out of healthcare. Not only do we provide a range of approved weight loss treatments, but we also offer essential guidance on a wide variety of subjects. Whether it’s advising on the foods to avoid when taking Wegovy, detailing how Wegovy works, or informing you about how to use the Wegovy pen, you can rely on us to assist with any queries you may have.

What’s more, our trained clinicians are committed to being with you every step of the way. To start, they’ll determine whether Wegovy is a suitable option for your journey and either issue your prescription or recommend an alternative solution. They’re also on hand to field your questions and will even regularly check in with you to monitor progress.

We understand that buying Wegovy or any other treatment online may sound daunting, which is why we’ve partnered with a dispensing pharmacy that’s registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. All items are dispatched in plain packaging for your discretion, while orders approved before 3pm on a weekday can also benefit from next-day delivery.

Ready to get started? Begin your Wegovy consultation today.  

Authored By

Kate Latham

Medical Content Writer

Kate has been a scientific content writer since 2017. With a BSc in Biology and a background in cancer research, she is adept at identifying the latest findings in medical research and utilising these

Published on: 19/08/2024 Re-Published on: 14/08/2025

Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Reviewed on: 14/08/2025