Nutritional considerations in GLP-1 RA therapy by Dr Rachael Taylor, APD & Dr Roberta Asher
An update on the MNT evidence
Further nutrition-related evidence for GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) is emerging and it’s time for an update. In exerting their metabolic effects, GLP-1 RA medications also reduce energy intake by roughly 16 to 39%, risking compromise to diet quality and micronutrient intake. GI side effects which are common during dose escalation (40-70% of patients) can further interfere with eating patterns. Dr Rachael Taylor and Dr Roberta Asher provide a comprehensive review of applying Medical Nutrition Therapy principles to supporting patients using GLP-1 RA medication.
Learn about:
- Throughout the medication continuum there is an important role for dietitians: prior to commencement, through dose escalation, maintenance and at discontinuation.
- Muscle mass loss is most apparent with rapid weight loss (>1% per week)
- Unsurprisingly, regular intake of nutrient-dense foods is necessary to meet raised protein targets of 1.2-1.6 g/kg/day, or 80-120 g/day.
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Dr Rachael Taylor is a dietitian and APD. She completed her PhD in 2018 which focused on maternal and postnatal nutrition and child cognitive outcomes. For the past 8 years she has worked in health research on a wide range of projects related to chronic disease prevention that have involved managing pilot randomised control trials and conducting systematic reviews. Rachael is passionate about developing strategies to improve the accessibility and acceptability of nutritional care for adults living with diabetes.
Dr Roberta Asher is a Dietitian and Postdoctoral Researcher. In 2024, Dr Asher completed her PhD research focussed on cooking skill development and nutrition education for people with disability using co-design methods. Dr Asher’s current research interests include dietary assessment and digital interventions that support and improve nutrition-related health and wellbeing for people living with diabetes, including adults using GLP-1 medication.