People who use GLP-1 weight-loss drugs tend to eat a \u201ccritically low\u201d amount of protein and skip meals, making it even harder to meet their protein needs, a new study has found.<\/p>\n
The findings, which will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity in May, highlight an \u201curgent need for proactive nutritional monitoring\u201d of patients who use popular GLP-1 medications like Wegovy and Zepbound, the authors noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtecting muscle mass should be a central goal of any weight-loss program,\u201d said lead author Valentina Vinelli, who is part of the metabolic health research team at IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy, in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMuscle health depends on sufficient protein intake and regular physical activity, especially resistance exercise.\u201d<\/p>\n GLP-1 users have a reduced appetite, making what they eat even more important, she added.<\/p>\n The study involved 332 adults with overweight or obesity \u2014 including 116 people who used a GLP-1 weight-loss drug such as semaglutide and tirzepatide. All used an app to track their food intake between July 2025 and February 2026. The app provides real-time estimates of a person\u2019s intake of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.<\/p>\n When researchers analyzed 5,741 days of data from the participants, they found GLP-1 users ate fewer calories and a \u201csignificantly lower\u201d amount of macronutrients, including protein \u2014 about 54 grams per day, compared to 62 grams per day for people who didn\u2019t use the weight-loss medications.<\/p>\n When adjusted for weight, protein intake was \u201ccritically low\u201d in GLP-1 patients at 0.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, the study found, or less than half of the current U.S. recommendations.<\/p>\n Adults should consume 1.2\u20131.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, according to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025\u20132030<\/a>. That\u2019s up from the previous recommended dietary allowance of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram per day.<\/p>\n People who used GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the study were also much more likely to skip breakfast, lunch and dinner than non-users \u2014 “reducing opportunities for adequate protein distribution across the day,\u201d according to the researchers.<\/p>\n Many people taking GLP-1 drugs receive little or no guidance on diet quality and protein intake, they cautioned.<\/p>\n \u201cReal-world GLP-1 (medication) use in adults with overweight or obesity is associated with widespread protein inadequacy and increased meal skipping, underscoring the urgent need for proactive nutritional monitoring,\u201d Vinelli said.<\/p>\n Personalized dietary guidance should be part of obesity treatment to make sure people using weight-loss drugs are healthy in the long-term, she added.<\/p>\n High-Protein Foods to Prioritize on GLP-1 Drugs<\/p>\n NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar advises consuming 20-30 grams of protein per meal every day.<\/p>\n Eat \u201chigh-quality, nutrient-dense protein\u201d from animal and plant sources, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025\u20132030.<\/p>\n Animal sources of high-protein foods<\/a> include:<\/p>\n EggsPoultry (turkey and chicken)Seafood (salmon and tuna)Red meat (ideally lean cuts of pork and beef)Greek yogurtCottage cheese<\/p>\n The American Heart Association advises<\/a> that plants, lean meats and fish are better for heart health than red meat. Plant sources of protein include:<\/p>\n BeansPeasLentilsLegumesNutsSeeds Soy products<\/p>\n Eat the protein portion of your meal first to boost the chances of getting enough. Supplement with a protein shake if you have a decreased appetite, Azar noted.<\/p>\n When Jennifer Lynn-Pullman, a registered dietitian and certified specialist in obesity and weight management, started using a GLP-1 weight-loss drug herself, she noticed she was eating only 800 calories a day, with very little protein.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s easy to do on a GLP-1 because you don’t feel hungry and you fill up quickly,\u201d Lynn-Pullman previously told TODAY.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe worry about malnutrition, we worry about people not getting enough nutrients.\u201d<\/p>\n She now has protein every time she eats, consuming that food first, then fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n