New Clinical Advisory Highlights Nutritional Needs for GLP-1 Therapy in Obesity Management

New Clinical Advisory Highlights Nutritional Needs for GLP-1 Therapy in Obesity Management

A coalition of four prominent organizations in the fields of lifestyle medicine, obesity medicine, and nutrition has issued a clinical advisory titled "Nutritional Priorities to Support GLP-1 Therapy for Obesity." This advisory marks a significant attempt to create a consensus-based framework that guides healthcare practitioners in providing comprehensive care to patients on GLP-1 receptor agonists. These therapeutics have demonstrated substantial efficacy in weight management, but the advisory underscores the necessity of integrating nutritional support into treatment regimens.

GLP-1 therapies have shown promise in aiding weight loss, with trials indicating average reductions of 5–18% compared to placebo. Beyond weight loss, these medications also appear to yield improvements in metabolic health, functional status, and cardiovascular outcomes. Nevertheless, reliance on GLP-1 medications without lifestyle interventions may fall short of ensuring long-term positive results for patients. Dariush Mozaffarian, MD, DrPH, the lead author of the advisory from Tufts University, emphasizes that while GLP-1s are a revolutionary step forward in obesity treatment, they cannot act as standalone solutions due to potential gastrointestinal side effects, nutrient deficiencies, and adherence issues.

The advisory outlines eight essential nutritional priorities for clinicians to consider:

• Patient-Centered Therapy Initiation: Tailoring initiation strategies based on individual patient needs.
• Baseline Nutritional Assessment: Conducting thorough evaluations of patients' nutritional status before beginning treatment.
• Management of Gastrointestinal Side Effects: Addressing and minimizing discomfort that may arise from therapy.
• Adopting Personalized Diets: Focusing on nutrient-rich, minimally processed foods to support health.
• Preventing Nutritional Deficiencies: Ensuring patients are aware of potential deficiencies and providing guidance to avoid them.
• Promoting Adequate Protein and Strength Training: Advocating for practices that help maintain lean body mass.
• Leveraging Healthy Diets for Enhanced Weight Loss: Using dietary choices to bolster weight reduction efforts.
• Encouraging Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes: Integrating sleep, stress management, and social connections into care plans.

A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of integrating lifestyle interventions, including nutrition counseling, with pharmacological treatments. Patients who receive both GLP-1 therapy and structured nutritional guidance exhibit improved outcomes in weight loss and adherence, and they are more likely to maintain their weight loss after stopping the medication.

Despite the advantages that nutritional counseling could provide, many patients eligible for GLP-1 therapy do not receive adequate dietary support. The advisory aims to bridge this gap by providing actionable guidelines for healthcare providers, highlighting the critical role that nutrition plays in maximizing the therapeutic benefits of GLP-1 medications. John E. Courtney, PhD, CEO of the American Society for Nutrition, reiterates that while GLP-1 therapies are changing the landscape of obesity treatment, they need to be complemented by nutrition strategies to optimize patient outcomes and minimize risks.

As the global prevalence of obesity rises, integrating nutrition into GLP-1 therapy represents a scalable solution that enhances both clinical and economic efficacy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to utilize these guidelines to foster sustainable dietary habits among their patients and incorporate lifestyle medicine as a fundamental component of obesity care.

The advisory has been published across four reputable peer-reviewed journals: the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Obesity Pillars, and Obesity. Discussions on the implications of this advisory are set to take place during the upcoming NUTRITION 2025 conference, furthering the conversation on effective obesity management strategies.