Why Nutritional Counseling Must Catch Up with GLP-1 Prescriptions
- Renato Romani MD MBA
- May 30
- 3 min read
Why Nutritional Counseling Must Catch Up with GLP-1 Prescriptions
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide have transformed obesity treatment, offering patients unprecedented weight loss results—often comparable to bariatric surgery. But with this breakthrough comes a sobering reality: most patients are navigating this powerful journey without the behavioral and nutritional guidance needed to ensure lasting success.
🚨 The Missing Piece in GLP-1-Based Weight Loss
Despite strong evidence and clear clinical guidelines recommending lifestyle integration, real-world implementation is still lagging behind. The data paints a concerning picture:
Less than 40% of patients on GLP-1s receive formal nutritional counseling as part of their treatment plan (1) .
The American Diabetes Association and Endocrine Society recommend that pharmacotherapy for obesity should be combined with lifestyle interventions, including dietary and behavioral counseling (2).
Yet, implementation studies show a stark gap between these recommendations and routine clinical practice (2).
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics emphasized in a 2024 position paper that most patients on GLP-1s still do not receive structured dietary guidance (3).
Behavior Without Support = Risk of Relapse
At EW2Health, we’ve seen this gap firsthand. GLP-1s are powerful tools—but tools work best in skilled hands. Without sustained behavioral change and tailored support, many patients regain weight once the medication stops. Clinics struggle with patient dropout, cost burdens, and the challenge of offering personalized care at scale.
💡 How We’re Closing the Gap with Predictive Behavioral Analytics (PBA)
Our Predictive Behavioral Algorithm (PBA) helps bridge the science-to-practice gap by turning weight data into actionable insights:
Forecasting Weight Trends: PBA predicts short-term weight outcomes, helping clinicians and patients prepare for natural fluctuations, plateaus, or faster-than-expected loss that may indicate lean mass loss⁴.
Adherence Tracking: We automatically measure how often a patient uses their scale, flagging disengagement early—especially important for GLP-1 tapering phases⁴.
Caloric Guidance Without Counting Calories: Using fluctuations in weight, PBA estimates caloric deficit or surplus, supporting more intuitive and effective nutrition coaching⁴.
AI-Powered Engagement: Our platform sends personalized messages, celebrates progress, and simplifies the patient’s experience—making lifestyle support feel less clinical and more human⁵.
🔄 From Episodic to Continuous Care
GLP-1s are not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Patients go through multiple phases: introduction, adjustment, weight loss, tapering, and maintenance. Each stage has different nutritional and behavioral needs.
That’s why we developed a dynamic approach:
Phase-based dashboards for clinics
AI chatbots for real-time, personalized dietary suggestions
Integrated support across pharmacists, coaches, and MDs
Training for professionals to manage GLP-1 patients more holistically
✅ Final Thoughts
It’s no longer enough to just prescribe the right medication. We need to support the right behaviors.
At EW2Health, we believe that the future of obesity care isn’t just about weight loss—it’s about health gain. That’s why we’re committed to making predictive, personalized, and proactive support the new standard for every patient on GLP-1s.
📚 References
Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism. (2024). Survey on GLP-1 counseling uptake. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2024;26(2):e15001.
American Diabetes Association. (2024). Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2024. Diabetes Care. 47(Suppl. 1):S1-S350.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2024). Position Paper on Nutrition in GLP-1 Therapy. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2024;124(3):567–575.
EW2Health Internal Documentation. V2 What is PBA and How Does it Work; Intro Monitoring and Personalizing Weight Loss Programs; Sinque’s Predictive Behavioral Algorithm.
EW2Health. (2025). How EW2Health Supports Weight Loss (Internal Report).
Also, take a look at this article jointly released by The Obesity Society, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, and the Obesity Medicine Association. It presents a clinical advisory titled 'Nutritional Priorities to Support GLP-1 Therapy for Obesity.'(link)