Thanksgiving on Ozempic: 5 rules for eating and dosing during the holidays
RichLegg/Getty Images
- GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have skyrocketed in popularity for weight management.
- Taking them doesn't have to disrupt holiday celebrations, a doctor explained.
- Avoid mistakes like changing your dose, and don't worry about traveling with meds, she said.
Popular weight-loss drugs shouldn't keep you from enjoying the holidays, according to a doctor.
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (sold as Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) have been a game-changer for weight management in recent years. Recent evidence also shows they may help prevent serious health threats like heart attacks and stroke.
They can influence appetite and the types of foods you might crave, but there's no reason they should dampen your holiday cheer, said Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
"These drugs seem to alter what kinds of foods you're attracted to, but you still have pleasure with the food that you have an appetite for," she told Business Insider.
To stay on track and enjoy the season, avoid these misunderstandings about GLP-1 medications that arise around food-related holidays.
Don't stop taking medications or change your dose
It doesn't make sense to skip a dose of GLP-1 medication or take less over the holidays, Apovian said — you wouldn't do so with other prescribed medications.
The drugs work by acting on hormones that influence appetite and digestion, helping to lower what's known as your weight set point. That influences your hunger and metabolism.
As a result, it's a bad idea to try to tweak your dose or schedule without talking to your doctors.
"These drugs are not meant to be manipulated like that," Apovian said.
Don't feel like you're going to miss out on holiday fun
Taking a GLP-1 over the holidays won't prevent you from enjoying the festivities.
"It doesn't mean that you have no appetite. It doesn't mean that you're not going to want to eat turkey and the foods you'll have over the holidays. You're just going to probably want to eat less of them," she said.
Smaller portions are key — don't forget you can look forward to leftovers. It can also be helpful to slow down and savor your food so you can tell when you're starting to feel full.
And you may not feel hungry for another helping of dessert or may be more inclined to pass on that extra glass of wine.
If you miss a dose by accident, don't panic
While it's a bad idea to skip doses on purpose, it's not a crisis if you forget to pack it or forget to take it on time. The best course of action is to resume your normal weekly dosing routine as soon as you can.
"You just take it in the next time you have it. Nothing bad will happen," Apovian said.
If it's been more than five days since you were supposed to take it, move on to your next weekly dose. Don't double up.
Don't worry about refrigerating medications while you travel
GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro should be stored in the fridge, but will be just fine for a day of travel as long as they're not exposed to heat, according to Apovian.
"It's OK. All you have to do is not keep it at 100 degrees," she said.
Remember, this is not a quick fix
It's a mistake to think that weight loss medications can temporarily prevent weight gain over the holidays, or reverse it for New Year's resolutions.
Like any other medications for chronic conditions, GLP-1s are prescribed to people long-term.
"This a not a short-term anything, You're changing your metabolism," she said. "If you stop taking it, your metabolism will go back to where it was and defend that higher body weight."
People are sometimes hesitant to think of staying on GLP-1s forever, in part because of ongoing stigma around weight. However, they shouldn't be treated differently than drugs for other chronic conditions like high blood pressure.
"I think the stigma is affecting our understanding of the disease. That understanding will continue to expand. We'll get there," Apovian said.