Wegovy is a weight loss medication. It has been designed to work alongside a balanced diet and exercise to help you achieve your weight-related goals.

Before it was launched, it was thoroughly tested by health authorities to make sure that it was safe for use. Part of this testing included the way it interacts with different foods.

While there are no foods that should be completely avoided while taking it, there are some that may worsen its side effects.

In this article, we outline how high-fat, high-sugar foods and alcohol can affect your Wegovy use.

Eating a small amount of fat in your meals is important for normal body function. Not only does it help maintain your energy levels, it can help you stay warm and absorb important vitamins A, D and E.

But choosing foods with healthy sources of fat is important. There are different two main types of fat: saturated fats and unsaturated fats.

Healthy, unsaturated fats found in avocados, olive oils and whole nuts can help promote a healthy heart by lowering or maintaining your good cholesterol levels (LDLs).¹

Saturated fats that are found in foods like chips, crisps, chocolate, bacon or sausages can increase the amount of bad cholesterol (HDL) in your body and increase your risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, stroke and high blood pressure.

If you’re using Wegovy, foods with saturated fat should be eaten in moderation. You might not be able to remove them from your diet entirely but you should make sure that you monitor the amount that you have during the week.²

One of the ways that Wegovy works is by slowing down stomach emptying. This can cause side effects like indigestion, acid reflux and stomach ache. These symptoms may be made worse by eating fatty foods during your treatment, especially on days when you take the injection.³

Choosing to bake, roast or steam certain types of food instead of frying them can help reduce your saturated fat intake. Using an air-fryer or your oven can help you make enjoyable meals that have fewer negative effects on your health.⁶

Having sugary foods and drinks throughout the day can lead to overeating. Sugar can cause cravings by causing your blood sugar to spike rapidly. As it drops, your brain receives hunger signals.⁴

Although Wegovy can help you feel fuller for longer, reducing your sugar intake can help you avoid large blood sugar spikes.

Sugary foods are typically high in calories. So eating too much of them can result in weight gain. The NHS recommends that you eat no more than 30g of free sugar a day. Using food labels can help you work out the amount of sugar in the foods and drinks you buy.

If you’re struggling to reduce sugar from your diet, meal prepping can help. By setting out a plan for the week, you can control the types of food you eat in advance. Food journalling, or writing down everything you eat, can also help you manage your food intake and hold you accountable for the decisions you make.

You can drink alcohol while using Wegovy. But your pharmacist or GP might recommend that you reduce or limit your weekly intake. Although the NHS recommend drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, drinking less than this may benefit your weight loss while on Wegovy.

This is because alcoholic beverages are high in calories. For example, a beer contains up to 222 calories per pint and a glass of wine can contain up to 158 calories. This means, that if you are out for a meal or celebrating an occasion where alcohol is involved, you may be having far more calories than you realise.^2,7

Drinking alcohol can also lead to overeating by causing your blood sugar levels to spike. This can make it difficult for Wegovy to work as it should – slowing or stalling your weight loss progress.^2,7

Drinking large amounts of alcohol while on Wegovy can also cause your blood sugar to drop to a dangerous level (hypoglycaemia) or rise to a dangerous level (hyperglycaemia).⁸

Hypoglycaemia can cause:

• Sweating
• Tiredness
• Hunger
• Shakiness.⁹

Hyperglycaemia can make you feel:

• Thirsty
• Like you need to pee more
• Tired
• Like your vision is blurred

It can also cause weight loss.¹⁰

To cut down on your alcohol consumption, Drinkaware recommends that you:

• Review your current alcohol intake (how many drinks are you having every week?)
• Know the number of units in your drinks (how many units are in your favourite drinks?)
• Switch to a smaller bottle or glass (Do you need to drink as much as you are?)
• Keep track of your drinking habits (Have you made any progress in cutting back?)

There are also a variety of non-alcoholic drinks available. Make sure to check their nutritional content as they can be high in sugar.

If you are struggling with your diet, speak to your GP. They may be able to refer you to a specialist, like a dietician. A dietician is a specialist who can help you identify unhealthy eating habits and devise a plan for a healthier diet.

You can also join local community groups for weight loss. Speaking to someone going through a similar experience can help you find motivation and meaningful advice.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme is a 12-week online programme that can also help you reach your weight loss goals if you’re unable to find or attend in-person community events.