Diabetes and weight-loss drug ‘changed my life,’ says senator: ‘I feel a decade younger’

A U.S. legislator said a GLP-1 cause changed his beingness — and present he's calling for wide entree to anti-obesity medications.

In a New York Times op-ed connected April 8, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., wrote astir his acquisition with Mounjaro (tirzepatide).

The injectable medicine medicine is chiefly utilized to dainty benignant 2 diabetes. 

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Fetterman was prescribed the medicine successful July 2025.

"As a stroke survivor, I was funny successful studies showing [Mounjaro] could importantly trim the hazard of large cardiac events," the legislator wrote.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., walks to the enclosure connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, D.C., connected March 14, 2025. In an op-ed connected April 8, the Pennsylvania legislator wrote astir his acquisition with Mounjaro (tirzepatide). (Reuters)

"Even though I started taking it for my heart health, I’ve been struck by however overmuch amended it has made maine consciousness crossed the board. It’s made a important interaction connected my wide health," helium continued. 

"Aches, pains and stiffness person vanished. Physically, I consciousness a decennary younger, arsenic good arsenic clearer-headed and much optimistic than I’d been successful years. As acold arsenic broadside effects, I’ve besides mislaid astir 20 pounds."

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Beyond lowering humor sugar, GLP-1 medications person besides been linked to a scope of different benefits, including improved bosom health, neurological relation and metabolic health, arsenic Fox News Digital has reported.

Eli Lilly, shaper of Mounjaro, besides offers different mentation of the cause called Zepbound, which is the aforesaid medicine approved for value loss, chronic value absorption and sleep apnea. 

Other GLP-1 medications see Ozempic, Wegovy, Victoza, Saxenda, each made by Novo Nordisk.

Sen. Fetterman is pictured astatine the White House connected Jan. 29, 2025. "As a changeable survivor, I was funny successful studies showing [Mounjaro] could importantly trim the hazard of large cardiac events," the legislator wrote successful an April op-ed. (Reuters)

Fetterman noted that GLP-1 drugs person been recovered to person beneficial effects connected cholesterol, bosom complaint and bosom inflammation. 

"Some caller studies suggest they mightiness adjacent assistance curb alcohol addiction and enactment cognitive function, perchance slowing oregon preventing conditions similar Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s," helium wrote successful the Times op-ed.

"Physically, I consciousness a decennary younger, arsenic good arsenic clearer-headed and much optimistic than I’d been successful years."

In the op-ed, Fetterman called for expanded entree to these medications, which tin outgo up to $1,000 retired of pouch if not covered by insurance.

"Currently, Medicare covers these drugs lone nether circumstantial circumstances, specified arsenic for diabetes oregon heightened bosom risk," helium wrote. "And Medicaid sum is adjacent much limited."

Fetterman added that helium was not compensated for sharing his experience.

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"I’m conscionable a feline who has benefited from these medications and wants to marque definite that anyone other who could payment from them tin person entree to them, too," helium wrote.

While Fetterman shares HHS Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s views of prioritizing nutrition and steadfast living, helium said helium believes the medications are indispensable for some.

Eli Lilly, shaper of Mounjaro, besides offers different mentation of the cause called Zepbound, which is the aforesaid medicine approved for value loss, chronic value absorption and slumber apnea.  (iStock)

"I afloat hold that fare and lifestyle matter — a lot. But fare unsocial isn’t enough," helium wrote. 

"For the millions of Americans struggling with superior wellness issues, medicine tin beryllium a important archetypal measurement to regaining capable power of their wellness to statesman making meaningful manner changes."

Doctors sermon benefits and access

Dr. Marc Siegel, objective prof of medicine astatine NYU Langone Health and Fox News' elder aesculapian analyst, noted that semaglutides, including Ozempic and Wegovy, are "very important drugs" for type 2 diabetes, with expanding usage for obesity. 

"Though these drugs look to person beneficial uses for the bosom and lipid illustration — and besides the encephalon and decreasing dementia hazard — studies are ongoing and much information is inactive needed," helium told Fox News Digital.

The archetypal approach to obesity is manner changes, including exercise, improved fare and optimal sleep, Siegel said.

"Having said that, these weight-loss drugs (including Zepbound) are besides bully tools erstwhile manner is not enough," helium noted. 

Fetterman was prescribed Mounjaro for imaginable bosom wellness benefits. (Getty Images)

"They assistance forestall down-the-line diseases specified arsenic bosom disease, stroke, precocious humor unit and slumber apnea, which thin to travel from obesity."

He added, "Overall, we are redeeming the healthcare strategy money, truthful I would similar to spot Medicare and Medicaid o.k. them for diabetes and weight loss."

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Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurologist and longevity expert, said he's been prescribing GLP-1s to his patients since 2019.

"Mounjaro and its cousins aren’t conscionable weight-loss tools — they’re metabolic reset buttons," helium told Fox News Digital.

Beyond lowering humor sugar, GLP-1 medications person besides been linked to a scope of different benefits, including improved bosom health, neurological relation and metabolic health. (iStock)

"People with metabolic syndrome don’t request lectures connected kale and the value of exercise. They request help." 

Osborn agreed that manner is essential, but is "rarely sufficient."

"GLP-1s springiness patients momentum by getting the shot rolling," helium said. "And erstwhile that happens, wellness habits are formed. Diet improves. Movement improves. People commencement to consciousness the benefits of steadfast living."

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Osborn noted that these medications aren’t cosmetic, but therapeutic. 

"I’ve seen what they tin bash firsthand: reductions successful assemblage fat, inflammation, glucose, triglycerides and insulin absorption — and with those, important reductions successful the incidence of changeable and bosom attack."

"I judge this is simply a awesome aimed squarely astatine Big Pharma."

President Donald Trump’s medication precocious announced that Medicare and Medicaid would not screen the medications, arsenic the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said precocious Friday.

Osborn said the determination to artifact sum apt doesn't person to bash with efficacy.

"Trump knows these medications work," Osborn said. "I judge this is simply a awesome aimed squarely astatine Big Pharma: ‘Lower the price, oregon Medicare, the biggest purchaser connected the block, is out.’"

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"This isn’t a dismissal — it’s leverage," Osborn said. 

"President Trump volition apt negociate until the ‘price is right,’ disempowering Big Pharma portion concomitantly bettering the wellness of Americans."