Got the Wegovy sulfur burps? Here's what to do about them

Unpleasant-smelling burps are something we normally associate with foods like garlic bread or a cheeky late-night kebab. That's because these foods are rich in a natural element called sulfur.

Sulfur is not harmful. In fact, it's vital. We need it in our diet as it helps our bodies protect cells from damage.

As useful as sulfur might be, sulfurous burps are unpleasant and potentially embarrassing for the person affected.

Eating sulfur-rich foods is the most common cause. However, a small number of Wegovy users have reported experiencing sulfur burps, too.

Let's find out why they happen – and steps you can take to stop them.

Why can sulfur give you smelly burps?

As your digestive system breaks down sulfur-rich foods, it creates hydrogen sulfide gas. This gas can be released as an unpleasant-smelling burp.

The odour is unmistakable – it's the smell of rotten eggs.

That's because what happens inside the egg is similar to what happens in the digestive system. As the egg goes bad, hydrogen sulfide builds up inside. When you crack the shell, the gas is released – along with that distinctive sulfur pong.

What causes Weygovy sulfur burps?

Our normal digestive processes will produce hydrogen sulfide from sulfur-rich foods. But why do some people experience sulfur burps when taking Wegovy?

It may come down to gut flora. This is the complex soup of bacteria that lives in the digestive system. These bacteria are the main producer of hydrogen sulfide in the gut.

Wegovy influences our digestive hormones – but it's possible that it also affects the balance of bacteria in the gut. This potential imbalance may contribute to sulfur burps.

Wegovy slows down digestion, too, which keeps you feeling full for longer. But this also means those sulfur-loving bacteria get longer to work on your food and break down more sulfur compounds.

This, too, could explain the increase in hydrogen sulfide gas that in turn can cause unpleasant sulfur burps.

What can you do about sulfur burps?



1. Eat fewer sulfur-rich foods

The most obvious way to mitigate sulfur burps is to modify your diet. Eat fewer sulfur-rich foods and your gut will produce less hydrogen sulfide gas.