Trump Talks About His Weight Loss, Reveals How Many Pounds He's Shed
Donald Trump has opened up about his notable weight loss, seemingly shutting down rumors that he uses medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy.
During a Monday interview aboard Trump's plane, "Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade praised the former president, 77, for being in "fighting shape."
Trump claimed that he has lost "maybe 15, maybe 20" pounds during this campaign cycle.
Asked about his weight loss strategy, Trump responded, "[I did it] the hard way. I work."
He explained that his busy schedule has forced him to skip meals.
"I've been so busy I haven't been able to eat very much. I'm not able to sit down and eat like a person like you. You can sit down and eat. Me? It's a little bit tougher," the former president claimed.
Following the interview, Jimmy Kimmel humorously mocked Kilmeade on his late-night talk show for taking "the opportunity to kiss Trump's sizeable butt."
Kimmel also commented on Trump's weight loss claims, suggesting, "OK, so he's on Ozempic for sure, right?"
Ozempic is a brand name for semaglutide, an FDA-approved drug for type 2 diabetes that has seen a surge in popularity in Hollywood for weight loss.
Several stars have admitted to taking Ozempic, Wegovy, and other similar medications to lose weight, including Oprah Winfrey, Sharon Osbourne and Elon Musk.
While Trump has not indicated that he's on any anti-obesity drug, Dr. Shauna Levy, an obesity expert at Tulane University School of Medicine, told the Daily Mail that "it is realistic to consider this possibility."
She pointed to the "availability and the success of the medicines," along with Trump having "the means and the resources to take these medications and pay for them."
Alabama-based dietitian Dr. Carolyn Williams told the outlet that Trump's weight loss appears to be mostly in the abdominal area, potentially indicating a reduction in visceral fat.
However, she raised concerns over how healthy Trump's approach to weight loss is, especially if it involves skipping meals.
Trump's final White House checkup in 2020 reported a weight of 244 pounds and a body mass index (BMI) of 30.5, categorizing him as medically obese.
Wegovy, which also contains semaglutide and is FDA-approved for weight management, is used in adults with a BMI of 30 or higher.
But an unnamed source earlier suggested to Page Six that Trump's weight loss was due to him making lifestyle changes.
According to the insider, Trump adopted healthier eating habits thanks to his wife, Melania Trump.
Trump's "excellent" health was affirmed by his personal physician, Dr. Bruce Aronwald, in November 2023.
Aronwald wrote, "Trump has reduced his weight through an improved diet and continued daily physical activity while maintaining a rigorous schedule."
