The most popular weight loss drug on the scene right now is semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, an FDA-approved medication for people with type 2 diabetes that also functions as an appetite suppressant, and Wegovy, which is specifically for weight loss. These drugs have taken the entertainment industry by storm (just look at all the Real Housewives who have copped to taking the shot). While most celebs are tight-lipped about using diabetes drugs for weight loss, these high-profile names have opened up about taking Ozempic, Wegovy or similar drugs.
Charles Barkley
NBA legend Charles Barkley has talked about using Mounjaro, saying his doctor prescribed it for him to help reduce his size. “My doctor told me, she says, ‘There’s a lot of fat young people. Ain’t a lot of fat old people. They’re all dead,'” Barkeley said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “I’m working out. I’m taking my shot once a week.” Barkley said he went from 352 to 290 pounds on the drug. He’s now close to the weight he was when he was drafted into the NBA in 1984.
Chelsea Handler
While most stars on weight loss drugs take them intentionally, comedian Chelsea Handler says she was unknowingly on Ozempic at one point, not realizing that Semaglutide was the same thing. On an episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Handler called the drug “a miracle” that’s “too good to be true,” but says she’s since stopped injections. “I’m not on it anymore. That’s too irresponsible,” she said. “I’m an irresponsible drug user, but I’m not gonna take a diabetic drug. I tried it, and I’m not gonna do that. That’s not for me. That’s not right for me.”
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan was fully transparent about using the drug during a 2023 appearance on Today With Hoda & Jenna. The comedian attributed his slimmed-down physique to going to the gym every day, as well as taking Ozempic. “That’s how this weight got lost,” Morgan said. “I went and got a prescription and I got Ozempic. And I ain’t letting it go!” The 30 Rock actor says he takes the shot every Thursday. “It cuts my appetite in half. Now I only eat half a bag of Doritos.”
Elon Musk
Billionaire businessman Elon Musk uses a drug similar to Ozempic as part of his wellness regimen. In response to a fan who asked his secret to looking “fit, ripped & healthy,” the business magnate replied “Fasting. And Wegovy.”
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne is open about all her cosmetic procedures, and the same goes for her weight loss ventures. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the former The Talk co-host said she had to stop using Ozempic after losing too much weight on the drug. “You can’t stay on it forever. I lost 42 pounds now and it’s just enough,” Osbourne said. “I didn’t actually want to go this thin, but it just happened and I’ll probably put it all on again soon.”
Amy Schumer
On an episode of Watch What Happens Live, comedian Amy Schumer told Andy Cohen about her short time on Ozempic, saying it wasn’t sustainable for her. “Like a year ago, I tried it,” Schumer said, adding that the drug made her so sick she couldn’t even throw a ball with her son. “You’re like, ‘OK this isn’t livable for me,’ but I immediately invested because I’m like, ‘Everyone and their mom is going to try it,'” she said. Schumer, who hasn’t shied away from disclosing other weight loss methods like getting liposuction, went on to call out other celebrities for not admitting to using Ozempic.
Patti Stanger
Millionaire Matchmaker’s Patti Stanger is upfront about her usage of the Type 2 diabetes drug. “I’m on the shot,” the reality star said on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast. “I’m gonna tell you the truth. I went on semaglutide, which is the ingredient in Ozempic.” The dating guru said she “got the worst acid reflux” and quit after three weeks, but now takes another form of the drug. “I waited, and all my hairdresser friends went on Mounjaro,” she said. “I’m not diabetic, but I do take a sugar pill twice a day to keep my sugar down,” Stanger said. “So my doctor recommended it, and she said, ‘I’ll give you the vial of Tirzepatide,’ which is the ingredient.”