People affected by the alert should avoid popular Christmas foods, including pigs in blankets
Charlotte Smith Senior Lifestyle Content Editor
15:21, 09 Dec 2025
The doctor explained why pork might be off the table(Image: Getty )
A health warning has been issued, impacting millions across the UK, concerning certain foods to steer clear of, especially this Christmas. Consumption of these foods could lead to a range of side effects, including bloating, reflux, wind, sulphur burps, nausea, diarrhoea, and occasional vomiting.
With December 25 just a few weeks away, many are beginning their Christmas dinner food shopping. Common items purchased and consumed during this festive period include pigs in blankets, along with roast potatoes, soft cheese and various meats.
However, millions are being advised to refrain from eating these popular food items due to a substantial health concern – see full list below. According to recent statistics, one in 20 Brits (2.5 million) is reportedly using weight loss injections in 2025, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy.
When using Mounjaro and Wegovy, it’s advisable to avoid foods that can intensify side effects or hinder weight loss. This primarily includes highly processed foods, sugary snacks, refined carbs, and excessive unhealthy fats, as they can cause nausea, blood sugar spikes, and stomach issues.
It’s also advisable to reduce your consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Instead, opt for lean proteins, fibre, fruits, and vegetables to enhance the effectiveness of the medications and achieve your objectives, reports the Mirror.
Ther are various festive foods GLP-1 users should consider avoiding this Christmas
The pressures surrounding Christmas indulgences are anticipated to cause considerable stress and anxiety, with many uncertain about which foods they can consume and which they should steer clear of. Dr Crystal Wyllie, MBBS, who serves as an NHS GP and a doctor at online medical practice ZAVA, has compiled a list of festive foods that GLP-1 users should think twice about this Christmas. She has also outlined the scientific reasoning behind her recommendations.
Why Mounjaro and Wegovy users should exercise caution with certain foods
Dr Crystal Wyllie explains that individuals taking GLP-1 weight-loss medications, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, often find that rich, high-fat, or extremely sugary foods trigger side effects. She notes this includes nausea, as the drugs naturally decelerate stomach emptying.
She explained: “Experiencing side effects is completely normal and very common on GLP-1 medications. They slow digestion and alter hunger signals, so mild digestive discomfort is expected for many people.”
She further clarified that when the digestive system is already functioning more slowly, substantial festive foods can remain in the stomach for considerably longer than normal. “In turn, this can lead to the well-known and very common symptoms of bloating, reflux, wind, sulphur burps, nausea, diarrhoea, and occasionally vomiting.”
The doctor continued: “Avoiding or reducing the amount of these trigger foods can help keep digestion comfortable over Christmas and reduce the likelihood of unpleasant side effects that may spoil the day.”
Wegovy’s active ingredient is semaglutide and it is a pure GLP-1 (stock image)
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are both GLP-1 receptor agonists and are medicines that you can only get with a prescription. You can’t buy them at a shop without a prescription.
You can obtain Mounjaro and Wegovy through the NHS or by securing a private prescription. However, there are certain criteria to meet, and you usually need to be referred to a specialist weight management service.
GLP-1 medications, which are also known as Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, are drugs that mimic a natural hormone in the gut. They help regulate blood sugar levels and can assist people in losing weight by slowing down digestion, making you feel less hungry, and enhancing insulin production.
These medications are primarily used for type 2 diabetes, but increasing numbers of people are using them for long-term weight management. They come in the form of injections or tablets and are recognised as being highly effective, although you should consider the cost and potential side effects.
Festive foods to avoid at Christmas as a GLP-1 userPigs in blankets
Brits on weight loss jabs may be dismayed to hear that, despite being a Christmas dinner staple, pigs in blankets should be avoided or consumed in small portions only, Dr Crystal Wyllie says. Pigs in blankets are high in fat and salt, which sit heavily in the stomach when digestion is slowed by GLP-1 medications. The double-fat combination of sausage and bacon often worsens nausea and reflux.
Common side effects: Nausea, bloating, reflux, stomach pressure.Alternatives: Lean turkey sausages or a smaller portion paired with vegetables.Roast potatoes (specifically when cooked in goose fat)
Despite some chefs claiming the key ingredient to making roast potatoes ‘better’ is goose fat, GLP-1 users may also be disheartened to learn that goose fat is extremely rich, and high-fat foods take longer to leave the stomach, something jab users are already prone to. This can lead to an uncomfortable ‘food sitting’ feeling and sudden queasiness after eating, Dr Crystal Wyllie says.
Common side effects: Nausea, fullness, indigestion.Alternative: Roast potatoes in olive oil, or a mix of roast and steamed potatoes.Meat in large portions
Dense protein requires significant digestive effort, and large servings can overwhelm the slowed gastric emptying caused by these medications. Dr Crystal Wyllie says this often leads to discomfort or nausea after a big meal, which can occasionally cause vomiting.
Common side effects: Bloating, nausea, stomach cramps.Alternative: Smaller servings of lean turkey breast or slow-cooked meats.Soft cheese
Soft cheeses, such as brie and camembert, contain high levels of fat and can be difficult to digest, especially after a heavy, hearty meal, according to Dr Crystal Wyllie. They commonly trigger nausea for GLP-1 users because the combination of richness and creaminess lingers in the stomach.
Common side effects: Nausea, bloating, reflux.Alternative: Reduced-fat cheese, hard cheeses in small amounts, or fruit instead.Brandy butter
Usually paired perfectly with a Christmas pudding, brandy butter is almost entirely made up of fat and sugar, the two biggest triggers for GLP-1-related digestive upset. “The richness can overwhelm the stomach quickly, even in small amounts, and often causes immediate queasiness,” Dr Crystal Wyllie says.
Common side effects: Nausea, indigestion, stomach heaviness.Alternative: A lighter custard or yoghurt-based topping.Yule log
The iconic Christmas dessert, the yule log, is dense, chocolate-heavy, and often filled with rich cream, which makes it slow to digest and very sweet, two things GLP-1 users are typically sensitive to. The quick sugar spike, followed by the richness, even small slices, can cause discomfort after a meal, Dr Crystal Wyllie said.
Common side effects: Nausea, bloating, reflux, sugar crash.Alternative: A small portion of dark chocolate or a sponge-based dessert without cream.
Dr Crystal Wyllie said: “GLP-1 users don’t have to give up their favourite Christmas treats entirely. Many people who are on weight loss medication like Mounjaro or Wegovy find that simply reducing portion sizes makes a noticeable difference.
Smaller servings are gentler on a slowed digestive system, helping to prevent the heaviness, nausea and reflux that larger portions can trigger. Eating slowly, stopping at the first sign of fullness and spacing richer foods throughout the day can also make festive meals far more comfortable while still allowing you to enjoy the things you love.”