Do Ensure help you put on weight?

December 8, 2025 •

3 min read

Clinical studies have shown that certain high-calorie, nutrient-dense Ensure shakes are specifically formulated and clinically proven to help people gain or maintain a healthy weight. If you are asking, "Do Ensure help you put on weight?" the answer is a nuanced yes, with success depending heavily on which product you choose and how you incorporate it into your diet.

Quick Summary

Ensure shakes can contribute to weight gain, but efficacy hinges on selecting the right product and integrating it into an overall calorie-surplus diet. Certain versions, like Ensure Plus, provide a high concentration of calories and protein, which is key for those seeking to increase their body weight.

Key Points

Choose the Right Product: For weight gain, opt for high-calorie formulas like Ensure Plus, as products like Ensure Max Protein have fewer calories.
Create a Calorie Surplus: Ensure works by providing concentrated calories, which helps you achieve the calorie surplus necessary to gain weight.
Supplement, Don't Replace: Drink Ensure shakes in addition to, or between, your regular meals, not instead of them, to maximize calorie intake.
Enhance Your Shakes: Blend Ensure with other calorie-dense ingredients like nut butter, oats, or fruit to create a powerful weight-gain smoothie.
Combine with Exercise: For healthy weight gain and muscle development, pair your increased calorie intake with a strength-training exercise program.
Seek Professional Advice: Consult a healthcare provider or dietitian for a personalized weight gain plan, especially if you have an underlying medical condition.

The Core Principle: Calorie Surplus

To gain weight, you must consume more calories than your body burns, a state known as a calorie surplus. Ensure shakes, particularly high-calorie versions, are an effective tool to help achieve this surplus without the need to force-feed large quantities of solid food, which can be difficult for individuals with a low appetite or fast metabolism. The nutrients packed into a convenient shake make it a manageable addition to a regular diet.

How Specific Ensure Formulas Drive Weight Gain

Not all Ensure products are created equal when it comes to gaining weight. While a variety of formulas exist, including those for general nutrition or high protein with fewer calories, only specific versions are designed for weight gain. The primary difference lies in the caloric density and macronutrient profile of each shake.

For example, Ensure Plus is formulated with 350 calories and 16 grams of protein per serving, while Ensure Max Protein contains 150 calories but a higher 30 grams of protein. For someone attempting to increase their overall body mass, the higher caloric content of the "Plus" formula is the critical factor. The added energy is what fuels weight gain, while the protein content supports the building of muscle tissue, especially when paired with strength training.

The Importance of Macronutrients

Successful and healthy weight gain is not just about raw calories but also about the balance of macronutrients. High-calorie Ensure products provide a balanced mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.

Protein: Essential for building and repairing muscle tissue. The quality protein in Ensure helps ensure that a greater proportion of the weight you gain is lean muscle mass rather than just fat.
Carbohydrates: Provide the body with its primary source of energy, helping to fuel workouts and maintain energy levels.
Fats: Calorie-dense and crucial for hormone production and overall health.

Practical Strategies for Using Ensure to Put on Weight

To maximize the effectiveness of your Ensure shakes, integrate them strategically into your daily eating plan. Relying solely on the shakes or using them as a direct meal replacement can be counterproductive, as they may suppress your appetite for solid food.

Here are some practical tips:

Add them to your meals: Drink an Ensure shake with or immediately after a meal to increase your total calorie and nutrient intake. This avoids replacing a meal with the shake. For example, enjoy a shake with your lunch or dinner.
Use as a nutrient-dense snack: Consume a shake as an in-between-meal snack. This helps spread your calorie intake throughout the day and keeps you consistently in a calorie surplus.
Boost with other ingredients: Make a calorie-dense smoothie by blending your Ensure shake with other ingredients like nut butter, bananas, oats, or seeds. This significantly increases the shake's nutritional value and caloric content.
Stay consistent: Consistency is key for weight gain. Establish a regular schedule for drinking your shakes to ensure a steady, reliable source of extra calories.

A Comparison of Ensure Products

To make an informed decision, it is helpful to compare the most relevant Ensure products for weight gain side-by-side.


Feature	Ensure Original	Ensure Plus	Ensure Max Protein
Calories	220 per serving	350 per serving	150 per serving
Protein	9g per serving	16g per serving	30g per serving
Primary Use	General nutrition/maintenance	Weight gain/maintenance	High protein, lower calories
Who it's for	Individuals needing general nutritional support	Those with involuntary weight loss or malnutrition	People managing calories or seeking high protein
Ideal for Weight Gain?	Less effective	Yes (high calories)	No (fewer calories)

Conclusion: How to Use Ensure Safely for Weight Gain

To conclude, Ensure can certainly help you put on weight, but it is not a magic solution. The effectiveness of Ensure for weight gain depends entirely on selecting the right product—specifically a high-calorie version like Ensure Plus—and using it to supplement, rather than replace, a balanced diet. Consistency and a strategic approach are vital. When combined with a nutritious whole-food diet and an appropriate exercise regimen, Ensure can be a valuable tool for those looking to achieve a healthy weight. For individuals with a very poor appetite, it serves as an excellent way to get necessary calories and vitamins. As with any dietary change, consulting a healthcare professional or registered dietitian is recommended to ensure your weight gain plan is both safe and effective. You can find more information about the role of balanced nutrition in health on the Abbott Nutrition website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ensure Plus is generally the best option for weight gain. It contains 350 calories per serving, which is more concentrated than other formulas, making it easier to create a calorie surplus.

The number of shakes depends on your individual calorie needs and overall diet. A common strategy is to drink one or two shakes daily in addition to your regular meals to increase calorie intake and support weight gain.

Yes, Ensure can be particularly helpful for those with poor appetite or medical conditions preventing them from eating enough solid food. The shakes provide essential calories and nutrients in an easy-to-consume liquid form.

Certain Ensure products can be used as meal replacements, but for weight gain, it is most effective as a supplement. Using it alongside your regular meals helps increase overall caloric intake without displacing nutrient-dense whole foods.

Ensure Plus is higher in calories (350 vs. 150) and formulated for weight gain, providing a balanced mix of macronutrients. Ensure Max Protein is lower in calories but much higher in protein, intended for individuals focused on muscle and protein intake with fewer calories.

Some individuals may experience mild digestive issues like gas or bloating, especially when first starting. Most formulas are lactose-free, making them suitable for those with lactose intolerance. For any concerns, it is best to consult a healthcare professional.

Weight gain speed varies based on individual metabolism, diet, and consistency. With a proper calorie surplus, noticeable weight gain (typically a few pounds) can occur within weeks to a few months.