Six foods to AVOID this Christmas if you're on a weight loss jab

A top GP has revealed six festive foods people taking weight-loss injections such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy should avoid this Christmas.

Dr Crystal Wyllie, an NHS GP and online doctor at private healthcare provider Zava, warned that popular seasonal treats could trigger 'unpleasant side effects' for people using the jabs

She explained that 'rich, high-fat or very sugary foods can cause problems at any time of year because the drugs slow stomach emptying', but the risks increase over the festive period when people are more likely to over-indulge

'When the digestive system is already moving more slowly, heavy festive foods can sit in the stomach for longer than usual,' she said.

This, she added, 'leads to the well-known and very common symptoms of bloating, reflux, wind, sulphur burps, nausea, diarrhoea and occasionally vomiting'

To reduce the risk, Dr Wyllie advised 'avoiding or reducing the amount of these trigger foods', but said people do not necessarily need to cut them out entirely.

'Smaller servings are gentler on a slowed digestion, helping prevent the heaviness, nausea and reflux that larger portions can trigger,' she said.

'Eating slowly, stopping at the first sign of fullness and spacing richer foods throughout the day can also make festive meals far more comfortable'

Pigs in blankets

The first food she warned against was a Christmas dinner staple: pigs in blankets.

'Brits on weight loss jabs will be gutted to hear that, despite being a Christmas dinner staple, pigs in blankets should be avoided or only consumed in small portions,' she said.

'Pigs in blankets are high in fat and salt, which sit heavily in the stomach when digestion is slowed by GLP-1 medications.

'The double-fat combination of sausage and bacon often worsens nausea and vomiting'

She said they commonly trigger 'nausea, bloating, reflux and stomach pressure', and suggested lean turkey sausages or much smaller portions paired with vegetables instead 

Roast potatoes cooked in goose fat

Next on the list were roast potatoes cooked in goose fat. 'Goose fat is extremely rich, and high-fat foods take longer to leave the stomach, something jab users are already prone to,' she said.

'This can lead to an uncomfortable 'food sitting' feeling and sudden queasiness after eating'

She warned they can increase the likelihood of 'nausea, fullness and indigestion', recommending olive oil instead or a mix of roasted and steamed potatoes

Large portions of meat

Dr Wyllie also urged jab users to avoid large portions of meat.

'Dense protein requires significant digestive effort, and large servings can overwhelm the slowed gastric emptying caused by these medications,' she said.

'This often leads to discomfort or nausea after a big meal, which can occasionally cause vomiting.'

She added that bloating and stomach cramps are also common, and advised opting for smaller servings of lean turkey breast or slow-cooked meats instead.

Spreading protein intake across the day, rather than piling it onto one plate, can help reduce digestive strain and make festive meals easier to tolerate. 

Soft cheeses

Soft cheeses such as brie and camembert were also flagged as problematic.

'They contain high levels of fat and can be difficult to digest, especially after a heavy, hearty meal,' she said.

'They commonly trigger nausea for users because the combination of richness and creaminess lingers in the stomach'

She warned they can also cause bloating and reflux, suggesting reduced-fat cheeses, small amounts of hard cheese or fruit instead

Brandy butter

Brandy butter, often served with Christmas pudding, was the fifth food to avoid.

'It is almost entirely made up of fat and sugar, the two biggest triggers for weight loss jab-related digestive upset,' she said.

'The richness can overwhelm the stomach quickly, even in small amounts and often causes immediate queasiness'

She warned it can also trigger indigestion and stomach heaviness, recommending lighter custard or yoghurt-based toppings instead

Yule log

Finally, Dr Wyllie advised avoiding yule log.

'It is dense, chocolate-heavy, and often filled with rich cream, which makes it slow to digest and very sweet, two things GLP-1 users are typically sensitive to,' she said.

'The quick sugar spike, followed by the richness, even in small slices can cause discomfort after a meal'

She warned it can cause 'nausea, bloating, reflux and a sugar crash', sug