The dangers of restaurants with an 'Ozempic menu'

BarcelonaOne of the greatest medical revolutions of recent times has been the development of new drugs to combat obesity, as nothing like it has ever existed before to treat this disease. Medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels, quickly suppress appetite and were initially designed to treat diabetes, have become one of the most effective tools for weight loss. Their success has long since driven up demand, leading to episodes ofsupply problems in Catalan pharmaciesBut its impact goes beyond the therapeutic sphere and can be seen in other sectors that are seemingly further removed from medicine, such as the restaurant or food industry.

For example, in the United States (where the use of these medications is much more widespread than here), there are already restaurants and supermarkets that claim to have adapted their menus and products for people who take these medications and, therefore, eat less than before. What they basically do is reduce portion sizes so that someone with less of an appetite can finish the meal. Faced with the possibility of starting to see Ozempic menus Regarding food preparations specially designed for people undergoing treatment in Catalonia, experts warn that this cannot be done lightly and that simply making smaller portions is not enough: these individuals' diets must be adapted in collaboration with nutritionists, taking into account the risks associated with their medications. These drugs regulate hormones, not just reduce appetite, and restricting intake without control or supervision can lead to deficiencies in nutrients, proteins, and vitamins that can seriously affect a person's health. Therefore, the Comprehensive Obesity Treatment Unit at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, a leading center in the fight against the disease in Catalonia, views with suspicion the possibility that some restaurants and supermarkets may begin advertising dishes and products adapted for people undergoing treatment without following professional guidelines. "It's frustrating that such a complex disease and treatment are being oversimplified. Enough is enough," laments Marta Comas, a nutritionist at the unit. Risk of malnutrition

To understand the extent to which it's necessary to fine-tune the treatment of these individuals, the number of professionals involved is key. At Vall d'Hebron, for example, they take a multidisciplinary approach with experts in endocrinology, nutrition, psychology, bariatric surgery, and nursing. When a patient arrives at the unit, the first thing they do is a very thorough nutritional interview to learn about their eating habits: what they eat, what they drink, whether they snack between meals, their sugar intake, who does the grocery shopping, and even who they eat meals with, among many other aspects. Then they perform a complete physical assessment to determine, in addition to weight, their muscle mass and fat percentage, and using state-of-the-art technology, they calculate how many calories their body needs to function.

"Each person has different needs: one person might burn 1,000 calories and another 1,300. If someone can't tolerate chard, we won't give them chard; the same goes for intolerances. Everything must be adapted," explains Comas. Without this individualized assessment to adjust nutrition to each person's needs, health problems can arise, ranging from gastrointestinal discomfort and hair loss to malnutrition in the case of people who drastically reduce their intake. "How can a 140-kilo body properly maintain its functions if it consumes only 800 calories?" asks Andreea Ciudin, an endocrinologist at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, who wants to make it clear that this is not an exaggeration, but real situations they see in the unit.

Hence the wariness and concern of experts regarding the possibility that supermarkets and restaurants will begin selling products designed for obese people taking medication of this type, since each person has specific needs and there are no magic formulas that can be applied to everyone. If a person consumes fewer than 800 calories, for example, they are at risk of malnutrition, which means their body may be forced to consume too much muscle to continue functioning. It can also affect bone health; the person may lose too much bone mineral and increase the risk of osteoporosis, a skeletal disease that weakens bones and makes them break easily.

Vitamin Supplements

Ciudin, who is also a member of the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO), explains that they are finalizing a guide for the nutritional management of people using these types of medications to minimize adverse effects. "It's a necessary guide. There are already some published, but this one will be more comprehensive and has broad consensus among professionals," says the expert, who clarifies that once it's finished, they will send it to the prestigious journal. The Lancet for evaluation and, if it passes their rigorous review, publication.

This guide is necessary, above all, because adverse drug reactions can be corrected with a sound nutritional approach, understanding the patient's needs and adjusting the dosage and diet. Therefore, in addition to a team of various experts, intensive monitoring is essential. "Prescribing medication can never be separated from constant assessment and follow-up. A hasty prescription, in my opinion, is malpractice if interventions are not carried out before and after prescribing the medication," the expert maintains. This intensive monitoring should serve to adjust the treatment if decompensation is detected.

For example, in the case of a person who severely restricts their food intake, they recommend reducing the dose and, if there is no improvement, they even consider withdrawing the treatment to avoid jeopardizing their health. In other cases where patients eat little and with limited variety, vitamin supplements are recommended to correct the lack of fruit or vegetables in their diet, or prioritizing meat if they are deficient in protein. "If someone comes to the clinic with a protein deficiency, we recommend that, when faced with a dish containing meat, potatoes, and vegetables, they start with the meat in case they get full later and can't finish it," Comas explains.

Treatment beyond medication

However, eating a healthy and varied diet is not the only lifestyle habit that must be adopted when undergoing these types of treatments. The European Association for the Study of Obesity also includes in its guidelines the importance of physical exercise for these individuals, a view shared by Josep Vidal, an endocrinologist at the Hospital Clínic and director of the Clinical Institute of Digestive and Metabolic Diseases, who argues that treatment is not limited to medication. "It's necessary to improve lifestyle, the quality and quantity of food intake. These medications help reduce hunger: they help curb food cravings, encourage eating faster, and prevent overeating. Therefore, they facilitate improved eating habits, but what must be followed is a suitable diet, such as the Mediterranean diet."

Regarding the possibility of restaurants and supermarkets making smaller products adapted for these patients, Vidal says that, in principle, he doesn't see it as a bad idea, especially in the United States, where portions are enormous, but insists that it must be accompanied by expert help and other lifestyle changes. "It's not a matter of eating smaller hamburgers from the latest fast-food chain, but of making a series of lifestyle changes," he maintains. For the moment, however, the Ozempic menus They haven't yet arrived in Catalonia, and experts see this as an opportunity to continue educating the public and reminding them that these are medications to treat illnesses and must be prescribed by a professional, not a trend that might be recommended by a [unclear - possibly "a person" or similar]. celebrity through social media.