Donald Trump faces backlash for calling Ozempic the ‘fat pill’ during a press briefing, raising questions about its effectiveness and use for weight loss. Experts weigh in on the controversy.
Donald Trump has sparked criticism for his comments about Ozempic, a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and assist with weight loss. Speaking in the Oval Office with RFK Jr. on Monday, September 23, Trump referred to Ozempic as the “fat pill,” despite the drug’s intended use for managing diabetes, not as a weight-loss treatment.
Ozempic, a GLP-1 injectable medication, was approved in 2017 to help manage type 2 diabetes by curbing appetite. While it has been shown to result in weight loss, this was not its original purpose. The drug belongs to a class of medications, including Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Saxenda, that are specifically designed for weight management.
Trump’s comments were made during a discussion on drug pricing in the U.S. where he expressed frustration over the cost of Ozempic. He remarked, “From $1,300 for a shot of… like an Ozempic or… I call it the fat pill or the fat drug. Sometimes it works for people, the ones I’ve seen, it hasn’t worked so well.”
He further elaborated, saying that some of his friends who had used the drug claimed to have lost weight, but Trump didn’t see visible results. “A lot of friends, they are fat, they say ‘yeah I’ve lost some weight’ — I say ‘you don’t look it to me.’”
His remarks sparked backlash on social media, with many users criticizing his lack of understanding of the drug’s purpose and effectiveness. One user responded, “What in the ever-loving F*** is wrong with this guy? Ozempic isn’t a fat drug. It’s diabetic medication.” Another pointed out, “Trump calls Ozempic ‘the fat pill’ and admits it ‘hasn’t worked well’ for some. Reality: it’s a legit diabetes and weight-loss drug, not a magic fix.”
While his comments were divisive, it’s interesting to note that Trump’s administration has shown support for using weight-loss drugs to address the obesity crisis in the U.S. The Trump administration has plans to launch a pilot program for the use of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound to treat obesity, with Medicaid and Medicare potentially covering the costs for weight management.
Despite the controversy over his remarks, the plan for a five-year experiment with these drugs aims to tackle the growing obesity epidemic. The debate around Ozempic continues as more Americans seek treatments for weight loss and diabetes management, raising concerns about the accessibility and cost of these medications.
