Comedian Jim Gaffigan recently discussed his weight loss journey, revealing that he lost 50 pounds with the help of medication. During a May 26 interview on Today with Jenna Bush Hager and guest co-host Justin Sylvester, the 58-year-old joked that he couldn’t take full credit for his weight loss because he “was brave enough to stick a needle in [his] stomach.”
Gaffigan explained that he used a prescription drug called Mounjaro, which is known as tirzepatide. This medication is usually prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes but has also been shown to help with weight loss. It is given through injections.
“I did appetite suppressants, so it’s not like I can even take any pride in it,” Gaffigan said while promoting his recent comedy special, The Skinny. Before starting his weight loss, he weighed 270 pounds.
He shared some of the health benefits he has experienced. “It’s great because my knees don’t hurt when I stand up. I’m less exhausted,” he said. Gaffigan also noted, with sarcastic air quotes, “It’s always good, you know, like the health benefits like, ‘I’ll live longer.’”
More importantly, he said, “I love it just because I feel better. It is great. It’s beneficial.”
Gaffigan admitted that he was unsure if the medication would work for him. “I had very low expectations because I knew someone who tried it and said, ‘Oh no, I was just nauseous for a week,’” he explained.
He also shared why he wanted to talk openly about using the drug. “I thought my true joy of eating would overpower anything,” he said. “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. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.”
Gaffigan compared the stigma around using medication for weight loss to other common choices people make. “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.”
