Michelle Obama’s weight loss fuels Ozempic talk

Former first lady Michelle Obama looks ultra-thin these days, leading just about everyone to speculate she’s joined the growing number of Americans who are taking Ozempic or a similar prescription GLP-1 weight loss drug.

Mrs. Obama appeared extra svelte in a newly released, glamorous photo shoot with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz. The 61-year-old mother of two showed off in skinny jeans with toned abs and a slimmed-down waistline. Her face appeared a little gaunt, which some say is a tell-tale sign of the rapid weight loss triggered by GLP-1 medications.

It’s all speculation, but her noticeable shrinkage comes amid a dramatic increase in GLP-1 prescriptions, especially for “off-label” purposes — meaning there is no underlying medical condition such as Type 2 diabetes, and patients simply want to shed some pounds and improve their appearance.

The number of people prescribed GLP-1 medications who were neither obese nor suffering from conditions related to diabetes jumped from fewer than 7,600 people in 2018 to nearly 108,000 people in 2023, according to a study published recently in the American Journal of Managed Care.

A long list of Hollywood stars have admitted to slimming down with the medications. Some were clearly overweight, including Oprah Winfrey and actress Kathy Bates. Some stars said they took the drugs to lose weight after pregnancy, while other actresses and performers who look rail thin are suspected of taking the medications but haven’t revealed how they lost the weight.

The drugs work by slowing down digestion and reducing appetite. The medications also improve insulin function. They were initially prescribed to help Type 2 diabetes patients lower their blood glucose levels. 

Ms. Obama, who is a fitness enthusiast, hasn’t discussed her slimmed-down figure or whether she is taking a GLP-1 medication. 

Dr. Alexandra Sowa, author of the book “The Ozempic Revolution,” said he can’t say for sure if Mrs. Obama is taking GLP-1 medication. If she is taking them, he said, it could have been prescribed for a variety of reasons.

“Yes, we do have to be careful about celebrities that are getting very thin,” Dr. Sowa said. “And I see it with my own eyes, and I can speculate. But I think being open about medication use could help a lot of people.”

Dr. Sowa said only a small percentage of people who could benefit from the pricey drug are actually taking it. The cost of Ozempic, without health insurance coverage, is between $350 and $500 per month, depending on the dosage.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 42% of American adults are obese or severely obese.

The former first lady has been open about her struggles with weight. She described herself in her 2018 memoir as a “chubby” child and a “decidedly un-skinny teenager,” who later gained weight following the birth of her children and after menopause.

“I never used to weigh myself. I’m not trying to stick to numbers, but when you’re in menopause, you have this slow creep that you just don’t realize,” she told People Magazine in 2022. “We’re all in menopause with stretchy bands, and our athleisure wear on, and you look up, and you can’t fit the outfits you had last year.”

Mrs. Obama wore jeans, a T-shirt and suede boots for the Leibovitz’s shoot. She posted a video and a photo on her Instagram account and said the image would be used in the new edition of Ms. Leibovitz’s photo book, “Women.”

“AnnieLeibovitz has always known that a photo can do more than preserve a moment — it can say something,” Mrs. Obama wrote on Instagram.

Mrs. Obama’s bestseller, “The Look,” was released on Nov. 4. It chronicles her style and the outfits she wore in and out of the White House and how they helped inspire her own confidence.

She also co-hosts a podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.

Speculation about Mrs. Obama’s weight loss began months ago, after she posted a video of herself dancing with Beyoncé’s mother, who appeared on her podcast. Mrs. Obama looked thin as she danced around in pants and a flowy top.

Rumors have been swirling for more than a year that the Obamas were headed for a divorce because they were rarely seen together. The couple has denied the speculation. 

Mrs. Obama appeared on the cover of Nov. 10 People Magazine, where she “opened up about embracing her 60s, date nights with Barack and her new lease on life.”

She told the magazine she’s prioritizing her health.

“My health has always been paramount. What I eat, working out, I go to regular doctor’s visits. I do not miss a mammogram. I do all the things that I’m supposed to do, because I value my health, and that also allows me to enjoy this time, because I’m not achy, I’m not sore, I’m not sick. I’m as vibrant as I’ve ever been,” she said.