GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Gain Traction Among Public Figures for Weight Management and Cardiometabolic Health
Key Insights
Andy Cohen disclosed micro-dosing a GLP-1 medication to lose weight and address arterial plaque and high blood pressure, highlighting the drug's broader cardiometabolic benefits.
Oprah Winfrey described medically approved prescription weight management as "relief, like redemption, like a gift," while declining to name the specific medication she uses.
Country musician Luke Combs expressed reluctance toward GLP-1 drugs, stating "that stuff scares me more than I would enjoy the benefits," underscoring varied public attitudes toward pharmacologic weight loss.
The growing public discourse around pharmacologic weight management has intensified as a range of high-profile figures share their experiences with GLP-1 receptor agonists (search) and related medications. These personal accounts illuminate both the clinical rationale for prescribing such therapies and the persistent ambivalence that surrounds their use.
Andy Cohen, the 57-year-old Bravo host, offered one of the most detailed disclosures in September 2025 during an episode of his SiriusXM Andy Cohen Live radio show. "I did, this summer, lose a good chunk of weight by micro-dosing a GLP-1," Cohen revealed. He emphasized that his physician had recommended the medication on multiple occasions, not solely for weight reduction but to address broader health concerns. "My doctor and I talked about this last year, had recommended a GLP-1 a few times to not only address what I was feeling about my weight, but treat plaque in my arteries and high blood pressure," Cohen stated. "This is a medication that actually is beneficial to a lot of elements of health and I finally said 'yes.'"
Cohen further noted the medication's impact on appetite regulation, saying, "It really helped me with cravings, which I was having a very hard time with, and really forcing myself to be more disciplined with my diet and with working out."
Oprah Winfrey, while not disclosing the specific medication she uses, articulated a broader cultural shift in her December interview with People. "The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for," Winfrey said. She added, "I'm absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself." Winfrey stressed that her approach is multifaceted: "It's not one thing, it's everything," she told Entertainment Tonight, referencing her treadmill workouts, hikes, water consumption, and nutritious eating habits.
Not all public figures have embraced GLP-1 therapy. Country musician Luke Combs articulated his reservations on a February 2026 episode of The New York Times' Popcast podcast. "That stuff scares me more than I would enjoy the benefits," Combs said. "I will [lose the weight], but I'm not going to do it the short way." He added, "Not that there's anything wrong with that. That's a personal choice. Just for me, I need to win the thing. I need to beat myself."
Kelly Clarkson disclosed a different pharmacologic approach during a May 2024 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. "My doctor chased me for like two years and I was like, 'No, I'm afraid of it. I already have thyroid problems,'" Clarkson explained, addressing speculation about GLP-1 use. She clarified that her medication is not Ozempic but rather "something that aids in helping break down the sugar—obviously my body doesn't do it right." Clarkson had previously shared that doctors informed her she was pre-diabetic, prompting her to adopt a protein-rich diet alongside her medication.
Singer Jelly Roll, who disclosed in November 2024 that he had lost 120 pounds, spoke candidly about his motivation for public transparency. "I did this publicly for a reason," he said on his wife Bunnie XO's Dumb Blonde podcast. "I want to be honest about my struggles with it with people." He added, "What I want the world to know and I want the people to see is that I didn't become successful because of my weight, I became successful in spite of it."
The varied experiences of these public figures reflect a broader medical landscape in which GLP-1 receptor agonists (search) are increasingly recognized for their dual role in weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction, even as individual patient preferences and safety considerations continue to shape treatment decisions.