4 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting Ozempic
You've seen the ads everywhere. Social media, TV commercials, magazine articles—everyone's talking about Ozempic and other GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Maybe your doctor mentioned it during your last appointment, or a friend shared their success story. Now you're wondering if this could finally be the answer you've been searching for.
Maybe you've already tried keto, Atkins, Weight Watchers, and countless other approaches. But if you have a history with emotional eating, binge episodes, or underlying trauma and anxiety that impacts your relationship with food, then approaching weight management, including medications like Ozempic, requires a different conversation than the typical "eat less, move more" advice.
Your doctor can write the prescription, but they often don't have the time or expertise for deeper conversations about how this will impact your relationship with food and long-term success. Before you start any GLP-1 medication, here are four essential questions to ask your doctor, plus how working with a registered dietitian can help you create the sustainable lifestyle changes needed for lifelong weight management.
Question 1: How will this work with my current treatment plan and/or medications?
If you're managing multiple health conditions and taking other medications, it’s important to know how a GLP-1 medication will fit into your routine. GLP-1 medications can interact with other medications, affect blood sugar levels if you're diabetic, and potentially impact how your body processes other treatments.
What to discuss with your doctor:
Your current medications and how they might interact with Ozempic or another GLP-1, especially if you're taking insulin or other diabetes medications that could cause dangerous blood sugar drops.
How this medication fits into your existing mental health treatment plan.
Whether your other specialists (endocrinologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, etc.) need to be involved in monitoring your progress and adjusting treatments as needed.
How often you'll need lab work and check-ins to ensure everything is working together safely.
Why this matters:
When your providers coordinate from the beginning, you get clear, consistent guidance and a comprehensive plan where your physical and mental health support each other from day one. You deserve treatment that addresses the whole you, and coordinated care makes that possible.
Question 2: What side effects should I expect, and how will we manage them?
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic can cause side effects, most commonly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. There’s also a risk of muscle loss during treatment. Research shows that 25-40% of weight lost with GLP-1 medications can come from lean muscle mass, which can have a significant effect on your metabolism and long-term health. Having a clear plan to manage side effects can make all the difference between successfully adjusting to the medication and abandoning it in frustration.
What to discuss with your doctor:
What the most common side effects are and realistic timelines for when they typically occur and resolve.
Specific strategies to manage nausea, digestive issues, and appetite changes that won't interfere with your nutritional needs.
What steps you can take to preserve muscle mass, such as adequate protein intake and resistance training recommendations.
How to tell the difference between normal adjustment side effects and signs that the medication isn't right for you.
What to do if side effects are impacting your ability to work, care for your family, or maintain your daily responsibilities.
Why this matters:
When you're prepared for potential side effects, you can focus on the healing process and feel confident in navigating any challenges that come up. Having a management plan also means you're less likely to make impulsive decisions about stopping the medication during the adjustment phase.
Question 3: What support will I need beyond the medication?
No single solution, whether it's a diet, exercise plan, or medication, creates lasting change on its own. You don't need more willpower or a perfect plan. You need a comprehensive approach to heal your relationship with food, whether you choose to include GLP-1 medication or not.
What to discuss with your doctor:
Nutritional counseling to ensure you're meeting your body's needs while your appetite is reduced.
Mental health support for addressing emotional eating patterns, trauma, or anxiety around food that medication alone can't resolve.
Support options for meal planning, grocery shopping, and developing sustainable eating patterns that work with your lifestyle.
Long-term planning for maintaining changes and transitioning off medication when appropriate.
Why this matters:
Medications like Ozempic can reduce your appetite and help break the cycle of overeating, but learning to trust your body, process emotions without food, and enjoy eating without guilt requires additional support and guidance.
Question 4: Will I have to be on this medication forever, and what happens if I stop?
This is one of the most common questions our clients ask, and it's important to have realistic expectations from the start. GLP-1 medications don't "cure" obesity—they help manage it. Without a long-term strategy in place, weight regain is common when people discontinue the medication.
What to discuss with your doctor:
Realistic timelines for how long you might need to stay on the medication
What factors will determine if and when you might be able to reduce or stop the medication
The likelihood of weight regain and what that process typically looks like
How to monitor your progress and make decisions about continuing or discontinuing treatment
What support systems need to be in place before considering stopping the medication
Why this matters:
The clients who are most successful with GLP-1 treatment are making meaningful lifestyle changes alongside the medication. With proper support from a registered dietitian and their healthcare team, many are able to come off the medication confidently and maintain their results without fear of regaining the weight.
When you have the right support system in place, you can approach this medication as a tool that helps you develop lasting habits and heal your relationship with food, rather than something you'll depend on indefinitely.
Why These Questions Matter and Where Your Registered Dietitian Steps In
While your doctor can prescribe GLP-1 medications and monitor your medical progress, most physicians simply don't have the time or the specialized training to dive into nuanced conversations about how medications like Ozempic will impact your relationship with food, your eating patterns, and your long-term success. This is where working with a registered dietitian becomes invaluable.
When clients come to us considering GLP-1 treatment, we explore questions like:
How can we ensure you're eating adequately for your nutritional needs while your appetite is reduced?
What safeguards do we need in place to prevent the medication from reinforcing restrictive patterns?
What signs should we watch for that indicate the medication might be negatively impacting your mental health or relationship with food?
How your relationship with food is changing—are you experiencing fewer cravings, less emotional eating, or more satisfaction from meals?
We help you track improvements beyond weight loss because building a healthy relationship with your body means learning to trust signals beyond the scale. You deserve to feel good in your body and confident around food, regardless of the number on the scale. We look for changes like:
Improvements in medical markers like blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, or A1C levels that indicate better overall health.
Changes in energy levels, sleep quality, mood, and how you feel in your body day-to-day.
Physical improvements like clothes fitting differently, increased mobility, or being able to participate in activities you've avoided.
Mental health improvements—less food-related anxiety, fewer guilty thoughts around eating, or feeling more confident in social situations involving food.
As your registered dietitian, we help you navigate this decision with the depth and attention you deserve. Together, we create a treatment plan that supports your recovery rather than potentially triggering old behaviors. Our goal is ensuring that any treatment you choose, including GLP-1 medications, moves you closer to food freedom, not further from it.
You deserve more than just a prescription.
Learn how we support our clients to heal their relationship with food, learn intuitive eating, and finally feel confident in their bodies. Book a free consultation to discover what comprehensive, trauma-informed care looks like for your unique situation.
