Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has publicly disclosed his use of a GLP-1 weight loss medication, revealing he has lost 80 pounds over the past two years. Pritzker began taking the medication after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes and later Type II diabetes at age 58, which he described as a "life-saving wake-up call." The medication, combined with daily exercise, has allowed him to stop taking insulin nine months ago, with his blood sugar levels returning to normal. This disclosure comes as Democrats are nearing an announcement regarding presidential candidacies, though Pritzker maintains his focus on his current gubernatorial term.
Pritzker's decision to speak openly about his weight loss and medication use marks a shift from his previous stance, where he often cited it as a "private health matter." He stated that he wanted to ensure the weight loss was sustainable before discussing it publicly, also noting that millions of Americans suffer from obesity-related health conditions. Pritzker has previously been the target of weight-related attacks, including from former President Donald Trump, who used AI-generated images and called him a "fat slob." Pritzker also stated that his weight loss medication is covered by the state's insurance plan due to his diabetes diagnosis, not specifically for weight loss.
The governor emphasized that the state's expanded coverage for GLP-1 medications for state workers, implemented in July 2023, was a policy decision made before his own use of the drug. This expansion, which cost the state $147 million in fiscal year 2025, covers medications like Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Ozempic for weight loss, beyond just diabetes treatment. He defended the policy as beneficial for taxpayers by potentially reducing the need for insulin. While acknowledging that budgetary constraints might lead to future cuts in weight loss drug coverage, Pritzker stated that expansion to Medicaid recipients is not currently feasible due to other pressing financial needs within the system.
