An Incarcerated New York Man Prescribed Zepbound Says Prison Food Restrictions Make It Harder To Get The Protein-Rich Foods Doctors Recommend During Weight Loss Treatment
For millions of Americans taking GLP-1 medications, getting enough protein has become an increasingly important part of managing weight loss. But for people taking the drugs behind bars, following that advice can be much more complicated.
Devin A. Giordano, an incarcerated writer serving a 20-years-to-life sentence in New York, says he learned that firsthand after a doctor at Eastern NY Correctional Facility prescribed him Zepbound earlier this year.
Giordano said his doctor recommended the medication to support weight loss and lower his blood pressure after warning that his health could put him at risk for a heart attack.
He began receiving 2.5-milligram injections once a week. Within months, Giordano said he noticed not only weight loss but changes in his muscle mass, particularly around his shoulders.
That made protein intake more important. The problem, he says, is that some of the foods he tried to purchase to improve his diet are restricted under New York prison rules.
Prison Food Rules Complicate A Healthier Diet
The Correctional Association of New York, an independent prison oversight organization, examined the state’s prison food system and concluded that its general confinement menu provides insufficient average daily servings of fruits, vegetables, protein foods and whole grains.
Options outside the regular prison menu can also be limited.
New York prison rules prohibit incarcerated people from ordering certain “vitamin, nutrient or protein-enriched food or drink mixes.” The restriction was fully implemented in 2023 as part of policies officials have linked to contraband prevention and security.
Giordano said he reduced his reliance on commissary foods such as candy, soda and heavily processed products after receiving his doctor’s warning. Instead, he began ordering foods from approved outside retailers.
His purchases included oatmeal, yogurt and quinoa, along with products from brands including Kashi, Clif, Belvita and Special K.
Many were rejected.
Giordano said products explicitly marketed as protein-enriched are among those most likely to be denied. Items labeled “high in protein,” “an excellent source of fiber” or “rich in calcium” can receive inconsistent treatment.
When an item is rejected, he said incarcerated people may be required to have it destroyed or donated, arrange for a visitor to pick it up within a limited period or pay to have it mailed elsewhere.
Prison Officials Cite Security And Nutrition Standards
Giordano said he now relies on foods he knows are more likely to make it through the approval process, including instant oatmeal, nuts, tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey sticks and beef jerky.
Those options present another problem: Many shelf-stable foods are high in sodium, forcing him to search for lower-sodium versions while trying to increase his protein intake.
The restrictions have also changed what was once a personal ritual between Giordano and his wife. He described calling her while she shopped for food packages, allowing the couple to briefly imagine they were walking through a grocery store together.
Now, he said, those calls are often spent checking labels and trying to determine whether healthier products will actually be permitted inside.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision defended its policies, saying restrictions on protein-rich products were established because of “security reasons, contraband control, and standardization protocols.”
The department also said its general confinement menu is developed and reviewed according to recommended nutritional requirements and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Officials said nutrition staff and a dietitian regularly review the menu and consider feedback from incarcerated people when evaluating possible changes.
For Giordano, however, the issue remains deeply personal. He says he is trying to follow the same medical advice given to people outside prison: lose weight, eat healthier and reduce his risk of serious chronic illness.
But while receiving a modern weight-loss medication is possible behind bars, getting some of the foods that can support that treatment remains considerably harder.
