During Thursday’s episode of The View, co-host Whoopi Goldberg accused Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of fat-shaming Americans by advocating for healthy lifestyle choices over weight-loss drugs. The exchange followed Kennedy’s comments to CNBC’s Jim Cramer, where he suggested that Americans should prioritize diet and exercise before resorting to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Goldberg argued that Kennedy’s position promotes stigma and shame for people who struggle with weight, emphasizing that medication can be essential for many. “This isn’t just about food,” Goldberg said. “Some people are born genetically larger.” She criticized Kennedy’s remarks as insensitive, adding, “You’re setting folks up for shame … Maybe you don’t know you’re doing it, I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt.” Goldberg then revealed her own weight-loss journey, attributing her success to the drug Mounjaro. “I weighed close to 300 pounds less than two years ago, and without Mounjaro, this would not have happened,” she said.
Goldberg highlighted that medications like GLP-1 inhibitors not only aid in weight loss but also help prevent serious health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Elon Musk, who is set to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the incoming Trump administration, also weighed in on the debate. Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter) that reducing the cost of GLP-1 drugs could improve Americans’ overall health, lifespan, and quality of life. Medicare currently covers GLP-1 medications only for Type 2 diabetes patients, not for weight loss alone, according to ABC News.
Musk’s remarks were made in the wake of the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. His accused killer, Luigi Mangione, reportedly left a manifesto condemning health insurance companies for prioritizing profit over patient care.
The debate underscores ongoing tensions over healthcare policy, with Kennedy’s focus on lifestyle changes clashing with those who see weight-loss drugs as essential for combating America’s obesity crisis.
