Former President Donald Trump's repeated use of terms like "fat shots" and "fat drugs" to refer to GLP-1 medications is drawing criticism from doctors and patients who argue the language is stigmatizing and dismisses the serious health conditions these drugs treat.
The use of GLP-1 medications, originally developed for Type 2 diabetes, has surged, with 11% of American adults now reporting use, according to a Gallup poll. These drugs are also prescribed for obesity, sleep apnea, and to reduce the risk of heart disease, with many users and healthcare providers calling them "miracle workers."
Despite Trump's efforts to make these medications more affordable, his choice of words has sparked concern. Critics argue that referring to these drugs as "fat shots" or "fat drugs" is not only offensive but also perpetuates harmful stereotypes about obesity and medical conditions.
Dr. Eric Burnett, an internal medicine doctor and health communicator, stated that while Trump's phrasing is not surprising given his history of using stigmatizing language, his greater concern is the government's inconsistent coverage of these medications through programs like Medicaid. "I would rather Trump focus less on calling it the ‘fat shot’ and [instead put] more legislation forward... to actually get Medicaid to cover these life-saving medications for patients who are having issues with obesity, but can’t get it covered,” he said.
Kylie Pomaikaiokalani echoed this sentiment, calling the "fat shots" framing "fatphobic" and reductive. "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," she explained. "I think in turn will make them seem more like vanity drugs instead of how they actually address real health conditions."
Dr. Elizabeth Kazarian, a family and obesity medicine physician, acknowledged Trump's past actions to lower GLP-1 prices but criticized his insensitive remarks. "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. Kazarian said.
Dr. Oni Blackstock, founder of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting company, argued that Trump's language reinforces the idea of obesity as a moral failing rather than a complex public health issue rooted in structural factors. "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,” she stated.
Other patients, like Cindy Mello and Heather McClary Philpot, expressed a dismissal of Trump's comments, focusing instead on the profound positive impact these medications have had on their lives. "He can call them whatever he wants. It doesn’t change the fact that they have been nothing short of a miracle for me," Philpot shared, noting over 130 pounds of weight loss in 22 months.
Krysta Berning Nunn described her GLP-1 medication as a life-changing "anti-inflammatory" for her endometriosis, contrasting it with the "inflammatory" remarks from Trump and the public that create shame. Similarly, Kelly Kuntz noted her husband uses the medication for diabetes and has experienced minimal weight loss, emphasizing that there should be no stigma around any drug that improves health.
Jennifer J. Beard stated that she does not care what others call her medication, as long as they understand it is not an easy solution. "I wish more people knew this wasn’t the ‘easy’ way. It’s not. I had to change my eating habits entirely," she said.
Amanda Brown-Mini concluded that Trump is likely uninformed on the issue, highlighting that GLP-1s are used for a wide range of conditions beyond just weight loss.