Protein on a GLP-1: why it matters and how to track it

Why protein matters while you eat less

In 2025, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association and The Obesity Society published a joint advisory on nutrition for people taking GLP-1 medicines for obesity.¹ It says enough dietary protein should be a priority to help preserve muscle and bone, particularly together with a structured strength training program.

It also notes that on a GLP-1 medicine, enough protein may be hard to get because of a smaller appetite or foods that no longer appeal.¹

What the joint advisory says about amounts

The advisory gives general figures, not a target for any one person. For the general adult population, the recommended daily allowance is 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight a day, a value it says is under review. Higher targets, such as 1.2 to 1.6 g per kilogram a day, have been proposed during active weight loss.¹

For people with obesity, it says it's unclear whether those figures should be based on actual body weight, an adjusted weight or lean mass, because actual weight can overstate needs. It describes 1.5 g per kilogram of lean mass as more accurate, though that needs body composition data, and mentions an absolute target of 80 to 120 g a day as an alternative.¹

It also says prolonged intake at or above 2 g per kilogram a day should be avoided.¹ These are the advisory's general figures, not advice for you. Your prescriber or a registered dietitian can help you choose a target that fits your health and your care.

How Onederland suggests a target

Onederland suggests a daily protein target from your profile: an estimate of your lean mass, multiplied by 1.4 to 1.6 g of protein per kilogram of it, within the app's limits. It's the app's own starting point, not a figure taken from the advisory.

You can set your own target in Settings, for example one your prescriber or dietitian gives you. The app shows how much you've had and how much is left, with no daily score.

Ways to keep track of protein

The advisory suggests eating protein-rich foods first in a meal to make it more likely you get enough, and mentions food logs or food photos as a way to check in on what you eat.¹

In Onederland, protein sits beside calories on every meal and on Home. Scanning a barcode, searching foods you've logged and entering food by hand are free. With Onederland Plus, describe a meal or take a photo and the app estimates its calories and protein. AI estimates can be off, so change anything that looks wrong.

Food and water you log are saved to Apple Health unless you turn that off. The food and protein tracker page shows every way to log.

When eating is hard

Some days a full meal won't appeal. The advisory mentions small, frequent meals when hunger is low, and foods such as smoothies, protein drinks, yogurt, cottage cheese and soups, which are often easier to face than heavier foods.¹

If a side effect is severe or does not ease, contact your care team.