Jim Gaffigan is the latest celebrity opening up about his major weight loss with the help of popular prescription medications.
The self-deprecating comedian revealed in a People interview that he shed 50 pounds with the help of Mounjaro, adrug used to treat type 2 diabetes. It also helps people lose weight.
“I feel good,” he told the outlet. “I’m just grateful because it’s such a better life.”
Gaffigan, 58, says he turned to the medication, a brand name for tirzepatide, after tipping the scales at around 270 pounds, but with some skepticism.
“I had very low expectations because I did know someone that had tried it and they were like, ‘Oh no, I was just nauseous for a week,’” the “Dad Is Fat” author explained. “And then I thought my true joy of eating would overpower anything.”
But once the slimming down started, he had a change of heart.
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Jim Gaffigan in 2018 (left) and last week (right). (Getty)
Gaffigan said he battled with his weight most of his adult life dating back to his 20s, when he “would work out twice a day just to be thin so I could eat.”
He continued: “And then as my metabolism slowed down, it became harder and harder, and then my knees started giving out, and then fatigue set in.”
Professionally, the married father of five has become quite relatable delivering frank humor about family, food and being fat in most of his routines.
Gaffigan’s latest stand-up special, “The Skinny,” shares more insight into his weight loss journey.
“I don’t know if you know, I’m normally a fat guy. But since I’ve lost all this weight, I’m just arrogant,” he cracks in a preview for the Hulu special, launching Nov. 22. “People—they won’t even say anything to me—they’ll just go up to my wife and ask, ‘Is Jim OK?’ Because to them, it’s more likely that I’m sick than I would ever have any self-discipline.”
In recent months, other celebrities such as fellow comics Amy Schumer, EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg and media mogul Oprah Winfrey have gone public about using weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.
As one of the few male celebrities opening up about his methods, Gaffigan hopes to shake the stigma associated with weight loss drugs.
“…that’s some of why I wanted to talk about it, because I almost thought it was kind of odd that people were resistant to talking about it,” he told People. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. There’s people walking around that obviously do not have blonde hair — yet they do. I don’t think that’s weird, either. It’s just whatever gets you through.”
