While on Saxenda, focus on a balanced diet of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, while avoiding fatty, greasy, sugary, and highly processed foods, especially if experiencing side effects like nausea, by opting for bland, low-fat options like toast, rice, and soups to help manage symptoms. Staying hydrated with water-rich foods and limiting caffeine and alcohol is also beneficial.
Best Foods To Eat While Taking Saxenda
A balanced diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods. These give your body the nutrients it needs while helping you feel full and satisfied.
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.
There may be an interaction between liraglutide and any of the following:
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.
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.
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.
On Saxenda, we recommend adding the following foods to your diet: High-quality protein sources: Fish, meat, eggs, tofu, tempeh, yoghurt, cheese, and seafood.
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.
1. Semaglutide (Wegovy®)
On average, weight loss of 1-2 pounds (roughly 0.5 to 1kg) per week is expected. Aim to stick to the suggested dosage increase schedule up to the maximum dose of 3mg a day (as long as you're not experiencing any strong or severe side effects). This has been shown to achieve the most weight loss by 16 weeks.
Kelly Clarkson followed The Plant Paradox Diet, which eliminates lectins and focuses on high-protein, But, it is much smaller, anti-inflammatory foods to support her health and weight loss.
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.
Saxenda works best when combined with a reduced-calorie diet and regular exercise. Ensure you maintain a consistent routine for optimal results. Consuming unhealthy foods and sticking to a static exercise routine can hinder weight loss efforts. Incorporate a variety of healthy foods and diverse physical activities.
Saxenda can make you tired until you get used to the medication. To limit any tiredness, try to get at least 8 hours of sleep, eat a healthy and balanced diet and keep active.
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.
Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist licensed by the MHRA for weight management in adults and adolescents with obesity. Whilst some patients report irritability or mood changes during treatment, anger is not listed as a recognised adverse effect in the Summary of Product Characteristics.
Hair shedding can also occur with Saxenda® during rapid weight loss, but this is generally temporary and reversible once eating stabilises. Will hair loss from weight loss injections grow back? Yes — in most cases, hair returns to normal thickness within a few months as the diet stabilises and energy intake improves.
Saxenda starts working immediately after your first injection. Some people begin to feel the effects of the medicine within a few days of taking it. However, weight loss isn't usually noticeable for a little while yet.
Saxenda works primarily on appetite regulation and glucose metabolism, not directly on reproductive hormones. Any menstrual changes are likely secondary to weight loss rather than a direct drug effect.
You can drink caffeine on Saxenda. However, if you are experiencing heartburn as a side effect of this weight loss medication, it might help to avoid or reduce the intake of common food triggers of acid reflux, such as caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods, and spicy foods.
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.
Semaglutide is also highly effective, especially for those who may prefer a single receptor-targeted approach. While both options support significant weight reduction, tirzepatide has shown slightly higher results in trials, making it a strong choice if weight loss is your primary goal.
It is not known if Saxenda® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people. Do not use Saxenda® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).