New Israeli Dietitians' Report Highlights Nutritional Risks of Popular Weight Loss Injections
A new position paper by the Israeli Dietitians and Nutritionists Association reveals significant nutritional risks associated with popular weight loss injections, which have largely gone unnoticed by the media. The report highlights that these injections can cause not only fat loss but also muscle mass reduction and serious nutritional deficiencies. It stresses the necessity of including a dietitian as an integral part of the treatment team, emphasizing that nutritional quality affects overall health beyond just weight loss.
The paper outlines common gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain. While these symptoms often subside over time, they can recur during dosage increases and may reduce food and fluid intake, impair quality of life, or lead to treatment discontinuation. Early patient education before starting injections is recommended to minimize side effects and support treatment adherence, including advice on small frequent meals, slow eating, hydration, and avoiding heavy or high-fat, sugar, and salt foods.
The authors also recommend monitoring not only muscle mass but muscle function, such as strength, especially in specialized clinics and at-risk populations. They advocate combining treatment with physical activity, particularly strength training, and suggest protein intake of 1.2 to 2 grams per kilogram of body weight, though clinical judgment is needed to determine the appropriate weight basis.
The report notes that while calorie intake and consumption of fatty and sugary foods decrease during treatment, there is little data on long-term dietary quality, vitamin and mineral intake, fiber, hydration, meal frequency, or eating patterns. Patients often report reduced appetite and fewer obsessive thoughts about food, but the effects after stopping treatment remain unclear, with some evidence of weight regain. Mediterranean or plant-based diets are linked to better health outcomes, though no specific dietary pattern is prescribed.
Mental health considerations are also addressed, recommending setting realistic expectations, monitoring body image, eating behaviors, and emotional state, especially in patients with histories of eating disorders or mental illness. A recent meta-analysis found no increase in suicidal thoughts during clinical trials but advises ongoing monitoring as medication use expands. The paper concludes by underscoring the importance of dietitian involvement from the start to help patients adopt sustainable eating habits during appetite reduction, a crucial opportunity that may not recur.
