No, you can't eat whatever you want on Saxenda if you want good results and fewer side effects; while no foods are strictly forbidden, high-fat, high-sugar, and processed foods slow digestion and can worsen nausea, so a reduced-calorie, balanced diet with lean proteins and vegetables is recommended to support weight loss. Saxenda slows stomach emptying, making rich foods uncomfortable, so focusing on nutrient-dense foods helps you feel full and aids the medication's effects, say the Weight Watchers blog and Ro.
Yes, there is no official contraindication to eating greasy food whilst taking Saxenda. However, high-fat meals may worsen gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, bloating, and discomfort due to the medication's effect on slowing gastric emptying, so many patients find lower-fat meals more comfortable.
Any food high in saturated fats. Fizzy type drinks that are high in sugar. Avoid energy drinks or sweetened caffeinated drinks. Large portions of food especially takeaway food where you don't know the calorie or nutrition content.
You can use Saxenda® at any time of day, with or without food and drinks. It is preferable to use Saxenda® at about the same time each day, at a time that is most convenient for you. Only continue using Saxenda® if you have lost at least 5% of your initial body weight after 12 weeks on the 3.0 mg/day dose.
On Saxenda, we recommend limiting the consumption of these foods: Ultra-processed foods: Most boxed cereals, supermarket bread and pastries, fast food, microwave meals, oven pizza, crisps, biscuits, fizzy drinks, and supermarket sandwiches. Added sugar.
High-fat foods:Foods that contain a lot of saturated fat—chips, cookies and cakes, pizza, fried foods—are digested more slowly. This isn't a big deal on its own, but Saxenda also slows gastric emptying, so when you eat meals high in fat while taking the medication, food sits in your stomach for even longer.
Ozempic tends to result in more weight loss than Saxenda, and it's more cost-effective per pound lost. However, it's a once-weekly injection, while Saxenda requires daily dosing, which may affect user preference.
Saxenda® should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Click here for full Indications and Usage.
To reach the best long-term weight loss success with Saxenda, make sure to practice a holistic approach that includes eating a healthier diet, finding more physical activity and exercising each week, sleeping better, staying hydrated, and managing stress levels, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed in trying to ...
Saxenda UK Dose
The Saxenda starting dose is 0.6 mg subcutaneously, SC, per day for 1 week. You should increase the dose by 0.6 mg each week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg is reached. By the start of the fifth week you should be on the maximum maintenance dose.
Drink enough water to avoid dehydration
When starting Saxenda, it can cause nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick) and diarrhoea (runny poo) that can last for a few days. This increases your risk of dehydration, which can cause serious kidney problems. Be sure to drink plenty of water or non-sugary beverages.
Nausea is the most common side effect when first starting Saxenda®. If you (or your teen) experience nausea, speak with your respective health care providers about ways to manage it. They may suggest some of the following: Eat bland, low-fat foods, like crackers, toast, and rice.
When taking Saxenda, there are no specific foods you can't eat while taking Saxenda, but it's a good idea to limit certain foods, such as: Foods high in added sugars. Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice. Unhealthy fats such as fried foods or pastries.
Foods to avoid while on Saxenda® to reduce side effects
Take these tips from the Calibrate medical team for a spin: Avoid fried, greasy, or fatty foods and foods high in sugar: These tend to be the toughest for your body to digest and the most likely to cause nausea while taking a GLP-1 medication.
Insufficient dosage: If you haven't reached the full therapeutic dose of 3mg daily, you might not experience Saxenda's complete appetite-suppressing effects. Some patients respond better at maximum dosage.
For additional side effects, please refer to the Medication Guide. If you (or your teen) miss your daily dose of Saxenda®, just take the next daily dose as usual on the following day. Do not take an extra dose of Saxenda® or increase the dose on the following day to make up for the missed dose.
Aiming for a gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is generally considered sustainable and safe. Over six months, this can translate to a weight loss of 20 lbs, provided that the individual commits to using Saxenda alongside a disciplined diet and consistent exercise regimen.
Kelly Clarkson uses a prescription weight-loss medication, but specified it's not Ozempic, though she hasn't revealed the exact drug; it helps her body break down sugar, a necessity due to pre-diabetes, alongside healthy habits like a high-protein diet, increased walking, and a better lifestyle after moving to New York. Her doctor encouraged medication due to concerning blood work, leading her to start after a health scare prompted change, though she initially hesitated due to thyroid issues.
Once-daily Saxenda®, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, can be taken at any time, independent of meals. Saxenda® is administered by subcutaneously injecting into the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The injection site and timing can be changed without dose adjustment.
However, studies have also shown that Ozempic leads to fewer side effects and adverse events than Saxenda, with people tolerating Ozempic better.
Saxenda is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). The best places to inject are the front of your waist (abdomen), the front of your thighs or your upper arm. Change the place where you inject each day to reduce the risk of developing lumps. Do not inject into a vein or muscle.
An analysis of 143 studies revealed that phentermine-topiramate and GLP-1 receptor agonists (like liraglutide and semaglutide) are among the most effective medications for reducing weight in people with obesity. The typical body weight reduction with these medications is 6% to 11%.
GPs are reminded the GLP-1 receptor agonist Saxenda will no longer be available in Australia by year end. Saxenda will be unavailable for purchase in Australia after December 2025, and GPs are being advised to discuss alternative treatments with patients.
1. Semaglutide (Wegovy®)
What are the serious side effects of Saxenda?