Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Reveals Diabetes Diagnosis and Weight Loss Journey
Pritzker attributes 80-pound weight loss over two years to GLP-1 medication and lifestyle changes, while downplaying 2028 presidential ambitions.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, 61, has revealed he has been using a GLP-1 medication for the past two years after being diagnosed with diabetes. The Democrat stated in a recent CBS interview that the medication has helped him lose 80 pounds and he feels significantly better.
Pritzker cited his father's death from a heart attack at age 39, despite being active, as a long-standing motivator for his own health consciousness. He also noted that the pressures of his gubernatorial role contributed to his weight gain, a subject that has drawn criticism, including from former President Donald Trump, who in 2024 characterized Pritzker as someone who "wants to eat all the time."
His doctor prescribed the GLP-1 medication after blood work two years ago indicated diabetes. "My doctor said, 'Oh, no, you'll never come off of it. You're going to have to do this the rest of your life, and I recommend that you take a GLP-1,'" Pritzker recalled.
The governor reported losing two pounds in his first week on the drug and experiencing a notable reduction in appetite. "All of a sudden, on the third day, I was like, you know, actually, I don't need to eat that thing," he said, describing the sensation as strange but not an immediate transformation.
GLP-1 medications, which include brand names like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, mimic a natural gut hormone to regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite by slowing digestion and increasing satiety. These drugs are used to manage type 2 diabetes and, in some cases, obesity.
Pritzker also announced that Illinois will cover GLP-1 medications under its state insurance plan for 55,000 civil servants, anticipating that the drugs will reduce long-term healthcare costs by preventing other diseases. Alongside medication, he maintains a daily four-mile walk along Lake Michigan.
When asked if his weight loss was part of preparing for a potential 2028 presidential run, Pritzker stated, "I have not made any decisions about what I might do in the future. I can tell you I want to be the governor of the state of Illinois for a while longer, and I'm running for reelection."
Recent polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination places Pritzker behind early front-runners. A September poll by Bowling Green State University/YouGov showed Kamala Harris leading, followed by Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsom, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with Pritzker not registering in the leading tier. A separate Harvard CAPS/Harris survey placed Pritzker at 4 percent, significantly behind Harris (42 percent), Newsom (18 percent), Buttigieg and Ocasio-Cortez (9 percent each), and Josh Shapiro and Jon Ossoff (7 percent each).