Tracy Morgan tells TODAY his weight loss is Ozempic
Comedian Tracy Morgan told TODAY hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager that Ozempic explained his weight loss, then later joked he had regained 40 pounds by 'out-eating' the drug.[1]
On August 14, 2023, comedian Tracy Morgan told Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager on TODAY that Ozempic was behind his slimmer look, saying, "That's Ozempic. That's how this weight got lost." [1] The remark came as part of a wider public conversation that year about which celebrities were using the diabetes drug for weight loss, a trend TODAY has tracked in an ongoing roundup of stars who have spoken openly about GLP-1 medications. [1]
Ozempic is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat type 2 diabetes. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, is approved separately for chronic weight management under the brand name Wegovy. [1] Because Ozempic itself is not approved for weight loss, using it for that purpose is considered off-label. Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Ozempic, has told TODAY it does not support off-label use of its medications. [1]
Morgan later added a punchline to his own story, saying he had "out-eaten Ozempic" and had gained back 40 pounds. [1] The joke pointed to something other public figures in TODAY's roundup have also described in more serious terms: that appetite changes from GLP-1 drugs do not always override old eating habits, and that results can shift if someone's relationship with food works against the medication's effects. [1] Chrissy Teigen, for example, told her podcast audience she found it hard to adjust to reduced hunger cues while on a similar drug, calling it frustrating because she knew her body needed food for energy. [1] Savannah Chrisley described stopping one GLP-1 medication because she didn't like how it changed her appetite, before switching to a different drug that she said worked better for her. [1]
Why it matters for patients
Morgan's comments, made half in jest, still reflect two real facts about these medications that matter to anyone considering them. First, Ozempic's FDA approval is for type 2 diabetes, not weight loss, so people who take it specifically to lose weight are using it off-label, a practice the manufacturer says it does not endorse. [1] Semaglutide's weight-loss indication is sold as Wegovy. [1] Second, Morgan's account of regaining 40 pounds after "out-eating" the drug is a public example of a pattern others in TODAY's celebrity roundup have also touched on: that weight loss on a GLP-1 drug is tied to how appetite and eating habits interact with the medication, and that outcomes can change over time. [1] The source does not say whether Morgan was still taking Ozempic when he described the weight regain, or what dose or other treatment factors were involved.
What happens next
The TODAY article does not report any further updates on Tracy Morgan's health or medication use beyond his comment about regaining 40 pounds. [1] It is not yet known from the available reporting whether he has spoken publicly about his weight or Ozempic use since making that remark.
Sources
Semaglutides.org is for information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to a licensed healthcare provider about your own care. Some links to telehealth services are affiliate links, labeled where they appear.