Trump's Latest Name For GLP-1s Has Doctors And Patients Raising An Important Concern - HuffPost
President Trump's use of terms like 'fat shots' to describe GLP-1 medications has sparked criticism from medical professionals and patients. Critics argue the language is stigmatizing and distracts from the more pressing issue of government insurance coverage for these life-saving drugs.
Why it matters
The rhetoric surrounding weight-loss medications highlights the tension between political messaging and public health advocacy for chronic disease treatments.
LOADING ERROR LOADING 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.”
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