Can Protein Help With Weight Loss While Using Ozempic?

Ozempic has rapidly become one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States, with an estimated 1 in 8 adults having used it at some point. The demand and use of the drug is only likely to increase in the future, as more than half of our population is considered eligible, whether for the treatment of diabetes or weight loss. This makes it important for us to understand how the drug works and what you can do to maximize its benefits while minimizing potential side effects. This brings us to the role of high-protein diets and protein supplementation when using Ozempic.

Why You Need Protein Supplements When Using Ozempic

Ozempic is a semaglutide drug that was originally developed to treat diabetes, but it’s also effective as a weight loss medication. Semaglutides like Ozempic work by suppressing your appetite, which means that you eat less food. While the reduced caloric intake is great for weight loss, reduced food intake can make it hard to get adequate nutrition, which you obviously need to stay healthy. Protein is particularly concerning because it’s also essential for preserving lean tissue. This explains why people who lose weight with such drugs don’t just lose excess fat, but also experience significant muscle loss.

While many patients explore microdosing approaches with Ozempic to improve tolerability and counter some side effects, this comes with its own risks and should only be considered under close medical supervision. Instead, most experts recommend high-protein diets and protein supplementation if you can’t get your required daily intake from meals alone.

The Importance of Protein Supplementation

Protein plays a critical role in your health as it’s needed for a variety of bodily functions and processes. Here’s how it helps and why it’s particularly important for anyone on Ozempic.

Preserves Muscle Mass:

Poor protein intake is a common problem when your caloric intake is reduced, as is the case when taking Ozempic. Increasing protein intake through dietary changes or supplementation helps provide your body with the amino acids that are essential for muscle growth and repair, protecting against muscle loss, weakness, and impaired muscle function during weight loss. Additionally, increased protein intake makes it easier to stick with a workout routine as it promotes faster recovery.

Better Appetite Control:

Ozempic is so effective at promoting weight loss as it suppresses your appetite. This can be supported with increased protein intake since protein increases feelings of satiety, so that you feel full for longer. The combination of Ozempic with high protein intake makes it easier to manage smaller meals without experiencing some of the unpleasant side effects.

Enhances Weight Loss:

Your body uses calories to digest any foods you consume, and this is described as the thermic effect of food. Protein has a higher thermic effect, requiring more calories for its metabolism as compared to carbohydrates and fats. Increasing protein intake, therefore, provides a slight boost to your daily caloric expenditure, supporting overall weight loss.

Improves Metabolism:

High protein diets offer proven benefits for blood glucose control and metabolism, slowing glucose absorption and stimulating the release of insulin. Protein supplementation, therefore, works synergistically with Ozempic to help stabilize blood sugar levels, lowering the risk of sudden spikes or dips, thereby preventing post‑meal crashes and intense cravings that can undermine your weight loss efforts.

To get the best results from protein supplementation while taking Ozempic, make it a point to increase your levels of physical activity. Resistance and weight training can be particularly helpful for building and preserving lean muscle mass during your weight loss journey. Also, make sure to choose a protein supplement that’s sugar-free and low in carbs to avoid extra calories and blood sugar spikes.