Taking a GLP-1? How a naturopath can support your health.

If you’re taking a GLP-1 medication such as Wegovy or Mounjaro, you may be wondering whether naturopathic support alongside your medication could help you look after your health more broadly.

Article 1:
GLP-1 medications in New Zealand — availability, funding, cost and what you need to know.

You may already be noticing changes in your appetite, how much you’re eating and your relationship with food.

For some people, that’s exactly what they hoped for.

But there can be another question that comes up:

How do I look after my health while I’m taking it?

A GLP-1 medication is one part of your health picture. What you eat, how you feel, how you sleep, your digestion, energy, mood, activity levels and overall nutritional status still matter.

This is where a naturopathic consultation can provide complementary support alongside your existing medical care.

What can a naturopath help with while you’re taking a GLP-1?

A naturopathic consultation provides an opportunity to look at the broader picture of your health and consider how nutrition, lifestyle and appropriate supplements may fit alongside your existing medical care.

For someone taking a GLP-1 medication, that might include looking at:

• whether you are eating enough protein
• the nutritional quality of your meals
• fibre and digestive health
• hydration
• energy levels
• sleep
• exercise and maintaining strength
• other medications and supplements you are taking
• your longer-term health goals

It isn’t about trying to replace the medication.

And it isn’t about adding a long list of supplements.

It is about making sure that weight loss isn’t the only measure of health and well-being.

Instead, a consultation provides an opportunity to look at the areas of health that sit alongside your treatment and consider what you may need to support your wellbeing.

Nutrition when your appetite is reduced

GLP-1 medications reduce appetite, which can mean you are eating considerably less than you were previously.

Eating less doesn’t necessarily mean your nutritional requirements have reduced.

When appetite is low, it can become harder to get enough protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals and overall nourishment from food.

Health New Zealand specifically recommends focusing on nutritious foods and adequate protein intake when using injected weight-loss medicines. It also highlights the importance of resistance exercise in maintaining muscle and bone.

A naturopathic consultation looks at your current eating pattern and helps you consider practical ways to make the food you are eating as nourishing as possible.

Digestive health and GLP-1 medications

Changes in digestion are common with GLP-1 medications.

Some people experience nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, stomach discomfort or changes in how much food they can comfortably eat. (Read more about digestive health and naturopathic support.)

If your digestion has changed, this is worth discussing with your prescribing healthcare professional.

Alongside that medical care, a naturopathic consultation can look at your food choices, fluid intake, fibre, meal patterns and other aspects of your digestive health.

The goal is to understand what is happening and decide what is appropriate for you.

GLP-1 medications, energy and fatigue

This is an area I think can easily be overlooked.

If you’re eating significantly less, experiencing digestive symptoms or not sleeping well, you may notice changes in your energy.

Fatigue can have many causes, however, so it shouldn’t automatically be attributed to a GLP-1 medication.

It can be useful to look at the wider picture.

How are you sleeping?

Are you eating enough?

Are you getting adequate protein and nutrients?

How is your digestion?

How active are you?

What is happening with your stress and mood?

Are there other health factors that need to be considered?

Sleep, stress and mood still matter

Weight management can easily become focused on food and the number on the scales.

But your health is bigger than your weight.

Sleep, stress and mood can influence how you feel day to day and can also affect your ability to make and maintain healthy lifestyle changes.

If you’re sleeping poorly, feeling depleted or finding motivation difficult, these are important parts of the health picture too.

They don’t need to be treated as separate problems.

Looking beyond the number on the scales

One of the things I particularly value about a whole-health approach is that weight is only one part of the picture.

If someone is losing weight but is also exhausted, struggling to eat enough, experiencing ongoing digestive symptoms or losing strength, those things deserve attention too.

The question becomes:

How can we support your health while you’re working towards your goals?

What does a naturopathic consultation look like?

I don’t start with a list of supplements.

I start by understanding you.

We’ll talk about your health history, current concerns, nutrition, sleep, digestion, stress, mood, lifestyle, medications and anything else that may be relevant to your situation.

From there, we can work out what is important and what is worth addressing first.

Your treatment plan may include practical changes to nutrition and lifestyle, evidence-informed supplements or herbal medicine where appropriate.

And if something needs medical assessment, investigation or a change to your medication, that remains within the role of your GP or prescribing healthcare professional

Can a naturopath work alongside my GP or prescriber?

Yes — complementary care doesn’t mean replacing medical care.

Your medical care comes first

If you are taking a GLP-1 medication, your medical prescriber remains responsible for the medication itself, including prescribing, dose adjustments, monitoring and managing medication-related concerns.

If you’re taking a GLP-1 and would like some support

You don’t need to have everything worked out before making an appointment.

Perhaps your appetite has changed, and you’re unsure how to meet your nutritional needs.

Perhaps your digestion has changed.

Perhaps you’re tired, your sleep isn’t great, or you’re simply wanting to make sure you’re looking after your health while using your medication.

These are all things we can talk through as part of a broader health consultation.

If you’re taking a GLP-1 medication and want to look at the wider picture of your health, you may also find these helpful:

• What are GLP-1 medications and how are they used in New Zealand?
  GLP-1 article 1
• Sleep, stress and energy
  Link to my mood/stress page
• Digestive health
  Link to my digestive health page.
• Heart health Link to my cardiometabolic health page

First naturopathic consultation

60–75 minutes | $120

Available in Christchurch or online anywhere in New Zealand.

If you’re not sure whether a consultation is right for you, you can also book a free 10-minute call first.

This article provides general health information and does not replace advice from your GP, prescriber or pharmacist. Do not change or stop prescribed medication without discussing this with your healthcare professional.

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