{"id":631924,"date":"2025-04-28T09:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T13:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631924"},"modified":"2025-04-17T14:49:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T18:49:02","slug":"victoza-foods-to-avoid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/victoza-foods-to-avoid\/","title":{"rendered":"7 foods to avoid on Victoza"},"content":{"rendered":"

Victoza<\/span><\/a> is a brand-name injectable drug that contains the active ingredient <\/span>liraglutide<\/span><\/a>. It belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, which also includes <\/span>Ozempic<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>semaglutide<\/span><\/a>), <\/span>Zepbound<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>tirzepatide<\/span><\/a>), and others. GLP-1 drugs like these are mainly used to manage Type 2 diabetes, reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, or help with weight loss, and Victoza is no exception. It\u2019s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lower blood sugar levels and improve cardiovascular health in people with Type 2 diabetes. It\u2019s sometimes used off-label as a <\/span>weight-loss<\/span><\/a> medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ideal diet while taking Victoza is rich in beneficial nutrients such as protein and fiber. Certain foods, such as ultra-processed foods, fast food, and sweets\u2014which tend to be high in fat and sugar\u2014can counteract the benefits of the medication or worsen its side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Victoza works<\/span><\/h2>\n

Victoza<\/span><\/a> works similarly to the GLP-1 hormone, which is released by the gut as a response to food to stabilize blood sugar. Victoza lowers blood sugar levels and may help with weight management through several mechanisms. It regulates blood glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin after you eat\u2014insulin moves sugar from the blood to cells, so it can be used for energy. Reduced blood sugar levels are typically seen in as little as two weeks. Victoza also delays stomach emptying and reduces appetite, which can help you lose weight over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While Victoza is sometimes used off-label for weight loss, <\/span>Saxenda<\/span><\/a> is FDA approved as a <\/span>weight management<\/span><\/a> medication. Saxenda contains the same active ingredient as Victoza\u2014liraglutide\u2014but is prescribed at a higher dosage.<\/span><\/p>\n

7 foods to avoid with Victoza<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cWhen looking to achieve good blood sugar control or a healthy body weight on Victoza, your diet matters,\u201d says <\/span>Richa Mittal, MD<\/span><\/a>, a Dallas-based obesity medicine specialist. She emphasizes that your diet is important even when you\u2019re not taking this medication.<\/span><\/p>\n

Certain foods can cause blood sugar spikes, making it challenging for Victoza to control blood glucose levels. To improve your body\u2019s response to sugar and support your cardiovascular and metabolic health, consider avoiding the following foods on Victoza.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Ultra-processed foods<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are often satisfying and convenient, but they\u2019re not the healthiest choices when trying to stabilize your blood sugar, support your heart health, and <\/span>lose weight<\/span><\/a>. \u201cOverly processed foods will sabotage any weight loss efforts and can cause worsened gastrointestinal side effects like nausea,\u201d explains <\/span>Supriya Rao, MD<\/span><\/a>, an obesity medicine specialist in Boston, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

UPFs tend to be lower in beneficial nutrients like vitamins and fiber while being higher in sugar, sodium, and \u201cbad\u201d saturated fats. These are <\/span>known contributors to heart disease<\/span><\/a>, yet UPFs make up a large portion of the typical American diet. <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> also shows that UPFs increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and they\u2019ve been <\/span>linked to obesity<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to spot UPFs? They\u2019re often packaged and have a long list of ingredients that you can\u2019t easily recognize. Some examples include:<\/span><\/p>\n