Why Seeing a Nutritionist is Essential When Using Weight Loss Medications
Most people are now aware of the weight loss medications that are available including Wegovy, Semaglutide, tirzepatide, Mounjaro and Ozempic. Whether you have seen and heard about them on social media or have discussed them with your doctor; are all-in for wanting to try them or are on-the-fence about their use, proper nutrition and lifestyle habits remains the gold standard for health outcomes and has never been more important. These medications are found to be an incredible therapy for many patients, but the word therapy does not mean solution. A therapy is one form of treatment that should also be used with other forms of therapy for a well-rounded approach. As a functionally trained nutritionist, I take a ‘whole-istic’ approach to health. I look at ALL areas of life that are impacting our health, with the goal of getting to the root cause of the ailment.
There is no one diet that fits all.
This reality is why individualized nutrition therapy has been found to be the most effective for patients. When working with someone, I spend time getting to know them. I take inventory of their in-depth health history, what has worked for them in the past and what has not. Most people come into my office having tried many different diets in their lifetime. I approach every patient with the knowledge that we are all unique. What works for one person, doesn’t necessarily work for another. We see this is also the case in our medication options as well. In my first career, I worked in mental health. I saw many cases where one psychiatric medication worked for one person, while that same medication caused many negative side effects for another. This is also true in nutrition. For example, one person loves and thrives off eating broccoli while another person experiences gas and bloat from consuming this cruciferous vegetable.
However, there are foundational habits that are supportive for EVERYONE in all medical specialties such as getting better sleep, exercise, talk therapy, reducing stress and eating a balanced diet; but the details of how these are carried out for each person will be different.
How a person responds to medication may be unique which is why a person’s medication use should be managed by a doctor. Similarly, a person’s nutritional habits should be guided by a nutritionist/dietician, especially when a person is doing BOTH interventions for better health outcomes.
Weight loss medications can be a very powerful tool for the right people. I often use the analogy that if a medication is a tool like a hammer, we still need the manpower to build the house. A house is not built by the hammer, but rather it is built by the man with the hammer. Sure, the hammer makes the process easier and faster than not having it, but we can’t discount the necessary work done by the man using this tool.
When a person is struggling with metabolic dysfunction, which is characterized by diagnoses such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, increased waist to hip ratio, elevated body fat percentage, and hormone dysfunction; it is necessary to make habit changes in the areas of nutrition and exercise.
The mechanism of weight loss medications is that they delay gastric emptying which helps a person to feel fuller, thereby reducing the volume of what a person eats. Additionally, they signal the central nervous system that you are full. Glucagon like Peptides, number 1 (GLP-1) medications also help to improve glycemic control, which is a huge benefit for people struggling to regulate their blood sugar.
However, we want to make sure that we aren’t relying on the medication alone to regulate our blood sugar, but that we also learn to make healthier food choices to improve our nutrient levels which are commonly found to be depleted amongst people who have obesity and blood sugar imbalances. By replenishing our nutrient stores, and improving our gut health, we find that our energy is improved, and our cravings are less, which will also help manage our blood sugars when medications are stopped.
Muscle is another hot topic within the conversation of using GLP-1 medications. When a person’s appetite is reduced, they will take in less volume of macronutrients and micronutrients. It is essential, especially when losing weight more rapidly, that we obtain adequate protein in our diet to preserve lean muscle tissue and adequate fiber to contribute to regular elimination. A person can lose weight on the scale, but if much of that weight comes from muscle loss, the body fat percentage may actually increase. Having the support of a nutritionist/dietician to ensure that healthy dietary changes are made, alongside other lifestyle interventions such as building the habit of weight training, will determine the success of long-term health outcomes.
Many insurance plans recognize the value of a person’s nutrition which affects nearly every single system in the body and offer coverage for medical nutrition therapy. People frequently don’t realize they have at least some coverage and may have never considered using it. I believe that every single person can benefit from meeting with a nutritionist….even nutritionists themselves!
What does a Nutritionist do?
A nutritionist plays a crucial role in medical nutrition therapy (MNT) as part of a patient’s treatment team. They work directly with the patient to assess their nutritional needs and create a personalized eating plan that complements their medical treatment.
The nutritionist educates the patient on making healthy food choices, managing symptoms, and understanding the impact of nutrition on their condition. They also monitor progress, make adjustments to the diet as needed, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure the nutrition plan aligns with the overall treatment strategy. By focusing on the individual’s unique needs, the nutritionist helps to enhance the effectiveness of the medical treatment and improve the patient’s quality of life.
In health,
Dana Ruch, Certified Nutrition Specialist