Pharmaceutical advancements with glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonists treatment (GLP-1RA) have dramatically shifted medical treatment for obesity and diabetes. The mechanism of GLP-1RA can lead to unwanted side effects with nearly half of patients discontinuing treatment within one year. Therefore, complementary care plans are needed both during and after GLP-1RA. During GLP-1RA, patients may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation and diarrhea. After treatment, patients may experience greater difficulty maintaining weight loss and stable blood glucose because the GLP-1RA's appetite suppressing and glycemic regulating effects are no longer present. There is currently limited evidence on weight maintenance after treatment, but available data suggest that sustained benefits require continued use of GLP-1RA. While research is still emerging on optimal nutrition therapy protocols during and after GLP-1RA, existing research provides evidence-based guidance that can inform patient care. A comprehensive position paper encourages fiber during and after GLP-1RA, however consuming high fiber diets can be challenging. In the U.S., only 5% of individuals achieve the adequate intake for dietary fiber. Fiber supplementation could be advantageous to fill those gaps and provide targeted benefits both during and after GLP-1RA. Several human clinical trials have found fiber supplementation improves bowel function and stool consistency, offering a potential solution for patients with side effects during GLP-1RA. In multiple meta-analyses, fiber supplementation has improved glycemic control across populations with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Fiber supplements have also shown benefits for general digestive health, obesity indices, lipid profiles, and blood pressure. This perspective argues fiber supplements could be a low-cost, effective nutritional intervention during and after GLP-1RAs.
