The use of GLP-1s is skyrocketing throughout the world; 11% of American adults report taking the medications, up from just 3% in 2024, according to a Gallup poll.
The prescription can be used to treat Type 2 diabetes (its original use), obesity and also lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of heart disease. Many healthcare workers and GLP-1 users consider these medications to be “miracle workers” as they improve health in myriad ways.
Yet, President Donald Trump, who has taken steps to make GLP-1 medications cheaper, often seems to reduce them to an insult. He often refers to the medication as “fat shots” or “fat drugs,” language he’s been using for months as he tells stories of a friend who “takes the ‘fat pill’ or the ‘fat shot’” and talks about seemingly the same friend who takes the “fat drug.”
At best, his use of the word “fat” is flippant and rude. At worst, it stigmatizes a community that regularly faces unfair treatment.
To understand how Americans feel about Trump’s nicknames for the medication, we asked GLP-1 users and medical professionals for their thoughts.
These responses have been edited and condensed for clarity.
“I’m less concerned about his phrasing … but rather our government’s inability to cover these medications most of the time through Medicaid.”
“GLP-1s are phenomenal medications. Obviously, not just for weight loss, but for diabetes and heart disease and sleep apnea.
And I don’t really put much stock in the way Trump talks. We already know that he isn’t the most elegant person, and he uses a lot of stigmatizing and dehumanizing language when it comes to women and immigrants and people he doesn’t agree with. So, calling it ‘the fat shot’ doesn’t surprise me.
I’m less concerned about his phrasing, or whatever he calls the medication, but rather our government’s inability to cover these medications most of the time through Medicaid. I would rather Trump focus less on calling it the ‘fat shot’ and [instead put] more legislation forward between him and Congress to actually get Medicaid to cover these these life-saving medications for patients who are having issues with obesity, but can’t get it covered.” ― Dr. Eric Burnett, an internal medicine doctor at an academic medical center in New York and a health communicator on social media
“To frame this class of drugs as ‘fat shots’ is not only fatphobic, but also flattens all of the benefits and uses of these medications.”
“GLP-1s have a ton of different applications. They were originally FDA-approved for Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance but have since been approved for so many other things, including obesity, sleep apnea, etc., with additional benefits like reduced risk of heart disease.
To frame this class of drugs as ‘fat shots’ is not only fatphobic, but also flattens all of the benefits and uses of these medications, which I think in turn will make them seem more like vanity drugs instead of how they actually address real health conditions.” ―Kylie Pomaikaiokalani
“The way that he’s expressing himself just propagates further stigma and shame.”
“I think those are surprising words coming from the leader of the free world, and not different from insensitive, un-empathetic things that he’s done in the past, like mocking people for disabilities.
In a few instances, Trump referred to GLP-1 medications as ‘fat drugs’ during briefings about lowering drug prices. I do want to point out that TrumpRX has served as a good coupon website to gather coupons for GLP-1s. I think Trump has done things to help lower the prices of GLP-1s, but I definitely think he’s insensitive with the way that he’s discussed it.
We know he doesn’t lead with kindness and empathy. We know that, in reality, the way that he’s expressing himself just propagates further stigma and shame towards a population that has only been treated that way before — with humiliation and shame.” ―Dr. Elizabeth Kazarian, a family and obesity medicine physician in Virginia
Burak Kara via Getty Images / UCG via Getty Images
“This framing reinforces the idea of obesity as some sort of moral failing.”
“[Trump’s] rampant and casual use of these terms reflects fatphobia and shows how normalized this form of societal marginalization is. It discounts the real psychological and physical health effects of obesity and pathologizes people with obesity.
Calling GLP-1 medications ‘fat drugs’ or ‘fat shots’ is an extension of fatphobia to the medications themselves. It treats an effective treatment as something shameful, akin to how obesity is treated.
This framing reinforces the idea of obesity as some sort of moral failing, not as the result of a confluence of societal and contextual factors — food deserts where people only have access to highly processed, high-calorie foods, infrastructure that prioritizes cars over walking or biking, lack of safe spaces to exercise, jobs that don’t allow employees to care for their own health and the chronic stress of living in a society with a scant social safety net.
Policies across all of these areas have contributed to the obesity epidemic, and minimizing obesity with these stigmatizing nicknames for GLP-1s mischaracterizes what is actually a public health crisis rooted in structural conditions.” ― Dr. Oni Blackstock, a primary care and HIV physician who is the founder and executive director of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting company.
“I don’t give a f**k what that idiot says about them or anything else.”
“Obesity is a complex, multifaceted, chronic disease, and GLP-1s correct a metabolic issue. They are a lifesaving medication for many people. I hate the stigma around them, and the way they’re treated, but if we’re talking about him specifically, I don’t give a f**k what that idiot says about them or anything else.” ―Cindy Mello
“The ‘inflammatory’ remarks by Trump and the general public are creating an unnecessary culture of shame around a life-changing ‘anti-inflammatory’ medication.”
“I was put on a GLP-1 to address my insulin-resistant PCOS/PMOS and fatty liver disease. However, the largest benefit has been an unexpected side effect of the inflammation reduction for my endometriosis.
It has been more effective at reducing my daily pain and giving me my life back than any other invasive treatment or drugs I have tried, while also having the lowest side effect risk.
Many people with autoimmune conditions are reporting similar success, and the ‘inflammatory’ remarks by Trump and the general public are creating an unnecessary culture of shame around a life-changing ‘anti-inflammatory’ medication.” ―Krysta Berning Nunn
Douglas Sacha via Getty Images
“We already have enough issues in the country with body image, from ‘too skinny’ to ‘too heavy’ and everything in between.”
“My husband is diabetic and takes it to control his A1C better. He has actually lost very LITTLE weight with the shot.
There shouldn’t be any stigma around this or any drug that helps you improve your health. We already have enough issues in the country with body image, from ‘too skinny’ to ‘too heavy’ and everything in between.” ―Kelly Kuntz
“He can call them whatever he wants. It doesn’t change the fact that they have been nothing short of a miracle for me.”
“He can call them whatever he wants. It doesn’t change the fact that they have been nothing short of a miracle for me.
After years of trying everything from changing diet, removing processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, different diet plans, HCG shots, keto and nothing working — 22 months in and I’ve lost over 130 pounds and gained my life back.
I believe that the obesity epidemic in this country starts with what’s in our food, which is regulated by the very institution that limits access to GLP-1s. It’s not meant as an alternative to healthy diet and exercise, but in combination with and not a quick fix.” ―Heather McClary Philpot
“I wish more people knew this wasn’t the ‘easy’ way. It’s not.”
“Listen… I’m on a GLP-1, and I don’t care what anyone calls it. If I let WORDS affect me, I’d stay bothered, and who has time for that? I’m just out here living my life.
Call it what you want to call it, I don’t care. I wish more people knew this wasn’t the ‘easy’ way. It’s not. I had to change my eating habits entirely.
Those who say all you need is diet and exercise have never had diet and exercise not work for them. Losing weight isn’t a one-size-fits-all. Why should we stay overweight when we have this wonderful tool to use to our benefit?” ―Jennifer J. Beard
“He is uninformed on this issue like he is on others.”
“He is uninformed on this issue like he is on others. GLP-1s are used for myriad conditions, not just weight loss.” ―Amanda Brown-Mini