Wegovy is a prescription weight loss injection that contains semaglutide. It is used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity to help eligible adults manage their weight. Semaglutide works by acting on appetite signals in the body. It can help you feel full sooner, stay full for longer and feel less hungry between meals.

It also slows down how quickly food leaves your stomach. This can be helpful for appetite control, but it is also why some people experience digestive side effects such as nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, bloating, reflux, or stomach discomfort.

Choosing foods that are easier to tolerate can help you feel better while your body adjusts to treatment.

No, you do not need to follow any kind of special branded diet while taking Wegovy.

The aim is to eat in a way that supports your weight loss, gives your body the nutrients it needs, and helps you manage side effects. For most people, that means smaller portions, balanced meals, regular fluids, and fewer foods that are high in calories but low in nutritional value.

You may find it helpful to think less about “forbidden foods” and more about “foods that help” and “foods that don’t help as much”. A food that causes nausea or bloating for one person may be fine for someone else, so your own symptoms matter too.

Fat is not something you need to remove from your diet. Your body needs some fat, and healthier fats can be part of balanced meals.

Foods such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and oily fish contain unsaturated fats, which are generally healthier choices. Saturated fats, found in foods such as butter, fatty meats, cakes, biscuits, pastries, and many processed foods, should be limited.

On Wegovy, very fatty or fried foods may be harder to manage because food stays in your stomach for longer. A heavy meal may leave you feeling overly full, sick, or even bloated and uncomfortable. Foods you may want to cut down on include:

• Fried takeaway meals
• Chips and fried snacks
• Sausages, bacon, and fatty cuts of meat
• Creamy sauces
• Large portions of cheese
• Pastries, cakes, and biscuits
• Rich desserts and chocolate

You don’t need to avoid these completely. Smaller portions, less frequent servings and lighter cooking methods can make them easier to fit into your diet. Try grilling, baking, steaming, roasting, or air-frying instead of deep-frying.

It may also help to check food labels. Choosing products lower in saturated fat can support both your weight loss and your overall heart health.

Sugary foods and drinks can add a lot of calories without keeping you full for long. This can make weight loss harder, even when Wegovy is helping to reduce your appetite. Common sources include sweets, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, sugary cereals, fizzy drinks, fruit juice, smoothies, flavoured coffees, and desserts.

Adults should try to have no more than 30g of free sugars per day. Free sugars include sugars added to foods and drinks, plus sugars in honey, syrups, fruit juice, and smoothies. They don’t, however, include sugars naturally found in whole fruit, vegetables, or milk.

Whole fruit is usually a better choice than fruit juice because it contains fibre and is more filling. If you drink fizzy drinks or sweetened coffees often, switching to water, sugar-free squash, unsweetened tea, or unsweetened coffee can easily reduce your calorie intake.

If you have diabetes, sugary foods and drinks can also affect your blood sugar levels. Speak to your prescriber or GP if you are unsure how to manage your diet while taking Wegovy with diabetes medicines.

You can drink alcohol while taking Wegovy unless your prescriber has told you not to. But you should note that alcohol can work against your weight loss goals in a few ways. Alcoholic drinks can be high in calories, and those calories can add up quickly across a week. Alcohol can also make you more likely to snack, choose higher-calorie foods, or eat more than planned. It may affect your sleep too, which can make healthy habits harder to stick to.

Some people also find that alcohol makes Wegovy side effects worse, especially nausea, reflux, diarrhoea, or dehydration. To cut down, you could try alcohol-free days, smaller servings, lower-alcohol drinks, alternating alcohol with water, or choosing alcohol-free options. Check the labels on alcohol-free drinks too, as some can still be high in sugar.

If you have diabetes or take medicines that affect your blood sugar, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice about alcohol.

Wegovy side effects are often digestive, so it is worth noticing whether certain foods make those symptoms worse.

Common triggers can include large meals, greasy foods, spicy dishes, rich or creamy meals, fizzy drinks, acidic foods, and large amounts of caffeine. Eating late at night can also make reflux or indigestion worse for some people.

If you’re feeling sick, try keeping meals smaller and simpler for a while. Eat slowly, stop when you feel full and avoid lying down straight after eating. Plain foods such as toast, crackers, rice, potatoes, soup, yoghurt, or bananas may be easier to manage on days when your stomach feels unsettled.

A food diary can be useful if symptoms keep happening. Note what you ate, when you ate, your dose stage and what symptoms you noticed. This can help you spot patterns and discuss them with your pharmacist or prescriber.

Hydration is important on Wegovy, especially if you’re experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.

Try to sip fluids throughout the day rather than waiting until you feel very thirsty. Water is best, but herbal teas, diluted sugar-free squash, or water flavoured with fresh fruit can also help if plain water feels difficult.

If you are vomiting or have diarrhoea, small, frequent sips may be easier than large drinks. Seek advice from a pharmacist, GP, or NHS 111 if you cannot keep fluids down, have ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea, or notice signs of dehydration such as dark urine, dizziness, dry mouth, or feeling very weak.

Most Wegovy side effects are mild and improve as your body gets used to the treatment. However, you should speak to a pharmacist, GP, or NHS 111 if side effects become severe, do not improve or prevent you from eating and drinking normally. Get medical advice urgently if you have:

• Severe or ongoing stomach pain
• Repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
• Signs of dehydration
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• Symptoms of low blood sugar, especially if you take diabetes medicines

Don’t stop or change your Wegovy dose without speaking to your prescriber, unless you have been told to do so in an emergency.

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.