GLP-1 Medications Explained: What They Are, Common Side Effects, and Why Nutritional Support Matters

Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy – they’re all just different brands selling the same product: GLP-1. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your gut naturally produces after you eat. It plays a role in regulating blood sugar, slowing digestion and signalling to your brain that you're full. GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, work by mimicking this hormone, which is why they reduce appetite and help regulate blood sugar so effectively.

Until recently, most of these medications were weekly injections – but that's now changing. The MHRA's approval means semaglutide tablets can be prescribed to UK adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or a BMI of 27 to 30 with a related health condition, taken once daily and gradually increased in dose over time. For many people, a tablet feels far more approachable than a needle, and early data on similar pills in other markets suggests strong uptake once they become available.

This matters beyond convenience. Wider access generally means more people trying these medications for the first time, often without the in-depth clinical support that earlier adopters may have had. That's exactly why understanding the fuller picture, side effects included, matters more now than ever.

‘Ozempic face’ isn’t the only side effect you might experience on a GLP-1. GLP-1 medications are generally well tolerated, but they're not without effects on the body. The most commonly reported issues are gastrointestinal: nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, and reduced appetite, particularly when starting treatment or increasing dose. Fortunately, for most people, these ease over time.

The effect that's drawn more attention from researchers recently is nutritional. Because GLP-1s work by significantly suppressing appetite, people taking them naturally eat less, sometimes substantially less. A systematic review covering several studies found that patients' energy intake decreased by 24%-39% overall, and lean tissue loss accounted for up to 40% of total weight loss in some cases. Eating less is, after all, the point. But eating less also means taking in fewer vitamins and minerals, at a time when your body still needs them. This is where nutritional support from foundational supplements like Morning & Night comes in.

A large retrospective study of over 460,000 adults newly prescribed GLP-1 medications found that nutritional deficiencies were diagnosed in 12.7% of patients within 6 months of starting treatment, rising to 22.4% within 12 months. Vitamin D was the most common gap, with deficiency rates at 7.5% by six months and 13.6% by twelve months. Other research has pointed to similar patterns in iron and B vitamins as additional areas of concern.

It's worth saying clearly: this doesn't mean GLP-1s are unsafe, and the muscle loss conversation in particular has become more nuanced than some headlines suggest, with some clinicians cautioning against overstating the risk. What the research does consistently point to is an opportunity: when nutrition is actively supported alongside treatment, outcomes tend to look better. Studies involving structured nutrition plans alongside GLP-1 treatment were associated with better preservation of muscle mass, and clinicians increasingly note that people who pair treatment with adequate protein intake and resistance exercise tend to fare best.

Morning & Night contains a clinically proven blend of 28 Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids, Adaptogens and Omega 3s to support your weight loss journey.

If you're eating less on a GLP-1, every meal needs to work harder for you. That can be difficult to manage through diet alone, especially in the early weeks of treatment when appetite changes are most dramatic and food can be the last thing on your mind.

This is where the research is converging on a clear, practical takeaway: nutrient density matters more when food volume goes down. Researchers reviewing dietary care for GLP-1 patients have specifically flagged vitamin D, B12, iron, calcium, and magnesium as areas worth proactively monitoring, alongside overall protein intake to help preserve lean mass. It's a sensible principle whether or not you're taking a GLP-1, but it becomes especially relevant when your appetite, and therefore your nutrient intake, has fundamentally changed.

We built Morning & Night around a simple premise: your body has different needs at different points in the day, and a single once-a-day formula rarely accounts for that. The supplement is split into a Morning dose, formulated to support energy and daily nutritional needs, and a Night dose, formulated to support recovery while you sleep.

A few of Morning & Night’s  ingredients are particularly relevant to the nutritional gaps research has flagged around GLP-1 use:

Vitamin D is included to support normal immune function and the maintenance of normal bones, addressing one of the most commonly reported gaps.

Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism and the normal function of the nervous system, an area worth attention when overall food intake drops.

Magnesium supports normal muscle function and contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Morning & Night is a food supplement designed to help fill nutritional gaps as part of a varied, balanced diet, not to replace one, and not to treat, prevent, or manage any medical condition or medication side effect. If you're taking a GLP-1 medication, talk to your prescriber before adding any new supplement, so they can advise based on your individual health needs.