Why You're So Bloated on Ozempic

You might think the number dropping on the scale is the whole win, but on a GLP-1, a meaningful share of what you're losing may be muscle, not fat, and the fiber that's supposed to help can quietly make things worse.

In this solo episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon discusses:

• Why 25–40% of the weight lost on GLP-1 medications can be lean mass, and how to protect your muscle with adequate protein (1.2–1.5 g/kg) and resistance training • The GLP-1 fiber paradox and why these drugs need fiber to work, but make it hard to tolerate, and why 40–70% of patients hit GI side effects like bloating and constipation • When to fiber max vs. fiber mine, plus how to reintroduce fiber gradually so you get the gut benefits without the bloat, bezoars, or obstruction risk

Get this balance right, and you keep your muscle, calm your gut, and let the medication do its job instead of ending up bloated, constipated, and quietly losing strength.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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Chapters

00:00 - Introduction

00:46 - The pear bezoar and bowel obstruction

02:07 - Why 95% of Americans fall short

03:32 - The GLP-1 fiber paradox

04:18 - Why GLP-1 drugs make fiber hard to eat

05:50 - How GLP-1s slow the gut

07:40 - Bezoars, psyllium, and the 87-case series

09:12 - Fiber as therapy: titrating it right

10:03 - The muscle loss problem

11:28 - Getting the fiber and GLP-1 balance right

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Disclaimers: This episode includes paid sponsorships.

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.