Six festive foods to avoid this Christmas if you're on a weight-loss jab, experts say

A top GP has warned that six festive foods could trigger unpleasant side effects for people using weight loss injections such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy. Dr Crystal Wyllie, an NHS GP and online doctor at Zava, said these foods can provoke unpleasant side effects because GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying.

She explained that rich, high-fat, or very sugary foods can cause problems at any time of year, but the risks rise during the holidays when people are more likely to over-indulge. When the digestive system is already moving slowly, heavy festive foods can sit in the stomach longer than usual, leading to bloating, reflux, wind, sulphur burps, nausea, diarrhoea and, occasionally, vomiting.

To reduce the risk, she advised avoiding or reducing the amount of these trigger foods, but people do not necessarily need to cut them out entirely. Smaller servings are gentler on a slowed digestion, helping prevent heaviness, nausea and reflux. Eating slowly, stopping at the first sign of fullness and spacing richer foods throughout the day can make festive meals more comfortable.

The six foods identified are pigs in blankets, roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, large portions of meat, soft cheeses such as brie and camembert, brandy butter, and yule log. Pigs in blankets are high in fat and salt and 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, and they commonly trigger nausea, bloating, reflux and stomach pressure. Roast potatoes cooked in goose fat are extremely rich; high-fat foods take longer to leave the stomach, increasing discomfort for jab users and prompting a full or queasy feeling and indigestion. Large portions of meat place a heavy digestive load on the slowed gastric emptying, leading to discomfort or nausea after a big meal. Soft cheeses such as brie and camembert are high in fat and can be difficult to digest after a heavy meal, often triggering nausea and causing bloating and reflux. Brandy butter is almost all fat and sugar, two big triggers for digestive upset; soft cheeses can overwhelm the stomach quickly. Yule log is dense and chocolate-heavy with rich cream, making it slow to digest and very sweet, which GLP-1 users are sensitive to and can cause nausea, bloating and a sugar crash.

She added that cutting them out completely is not necessary for many, but moderation helps. Spreading protein intake across the day can reduce digestive strain and make festive meals easier to tolerate.

People on these medications should consult their clinician if they develop persistent digestive issues.