Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has criticized dependence on the weight-loss drug Ozempic, raised concerns about the drug’s government funding, and accused the government of obesity. He insisted on addressing the root causes. in America instead.
What position was RFK Jr. drafted to?
Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, has been selected to head the U.S. public health agency as secretary of the Department of Health. If Kennedy Jr. is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as secretary, he will become a member of the Trump administration’s cabinet and advise the president on public health issues.
Kennedy Jr., a former independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election, pledged to “Make America Healthy Again,” borrowing President Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” (MAGA). He withdrew from the race in late August and supported the Trump campaign.
Kennedy Jr. spoke about several public health changes, including pledging to immediately remove fluoride from drinking water. This is a major reversal of decades of practice that has been praised for significantly reducing cavities and strengthening teeth.
He is on leave as president of the anti-vaccination group Children’s Health Defense, where he has long made debunked claims that childhood vaccines cause autism. He also advocated against coronavirus vaccines during the pandemic.
What is Ozempic?
Ozempic and other glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor analogs (such as Wegovy) are drugs that mimic the satiety hormone GLP-1, which reduces appetite, slows digestion, and helps stabilize blood sugar levels. , has been shown to affect metabolism. It can be prescribed for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta also pointed out that the drug not only slows digestion, but also “stimulates insulin production in the pancreas, which helps absorb calories.”
The drug is widely available, with approximately 1 in 8 U.S. adults taking a GLP-1 drug as of May 2024, according to KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy. It turns out.
“In addition to weight loss, people are likely to experience not only fat loss but also muscle loss,” Gupta said of the drug’s potential side effects.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
What does RFK Jr. say about Ozempic?
Kennedy Jr. has criticized the drug for being a weight loss method, focusing on the symptoms of obesity rather than addressing what he classifies as the underlying problems, such as eating systems and exercise. said.
He also opposes Medicare and Medicaid coverage of expensive weight loss drugs. These drugs are not widely available at this time be eligible for one of the programsbut there is bipartisan support in Congress to change that.
newsweek Kennedy Jr. was contacted for comment via email.
In an appearance on FOX News in October Gutfeld!Kennedy Jr. expressed concern about the drug’s pricing, saying, “We spend $1,600 a month on this drug. There is a bill in Congress right now that will reduce the number of people who are overweight, who are 74 percent of Americans.” “Everyone in the world will have access to this medicine.” population. “
“This alone would cost $3 trillion a year,” he added, “if we spent about a fifth of that on providing every man, woman and child in the country with three good meals a day. , we can solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight.” It’s only a fraction of the cost. ”
Instead of having health insurance pay for the drug, Kennedy Jr. said at a late September town hall in Philadelphia, “If a doctor’s patient has diabetes or obesity, the doctor will recommend that they join a gym. “I should be able to say that,” he said. , and I’m going to recommend good food, and Medicaid should be able to fund them just like Ozempic. ”
between him, Gutfeld! Kennedy Jr. also said that the drug’s manufacturer, Denmark-based Novo Nordisk, is not selling the drug to Europeans, and instead “expects them to sell it to Americans.” “Because we are so stupid and addicted.” To drugs. ”
In early September, he wrote in a post on what used to be Twitter, X, in response to an article about Ozempic: Until our country is healthy again, maybe we should consider replanting our vegetable garden before sending more money to Denmark. ”
