Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has lost 80 pounds over two years using a GLP-1 medication after being diagnosed with diabetes, he said during a CBS Mornings interview. The governor stated he has been using the medication for the last two years to manage his weight following the diagnosis.

Pritzker described a lifelong struggle with his weight that began in childhood. "I've been overweight most of my life, really, since I was probably 7 or 8 years old," he said. He noted that the availability of GLP-1 medications allowed him to achieve results that had previously eluded him.

"I've been driven my whole life to lose weight. The fact that I am now able to do it because this GLP-1 became available is truly, like, I mean, it's something that has meant a lot to me," he said.

The decision to begin treatment involved input from his family and medical providers. MK Pritzker encouraged her husband to take the GLP-1 medication due to concerns about his health history. "Obviously, I knew the history of his family. You know, it's such a sad story, and of course, I want him to be around for a really long time," she said.

His doctor also advised that the condition would require long-term management. "My doctor said, 'Oh, no, you'll never come off of it. You're going to have to do this the rest of your life, and I recommend that you take a GLP-1,'" Pritzker said.

The governor's family history includes early heart disease. Donald Pritzker died of a heart attack at age 39 while playing tennis. JB Pritzker recounted the event, noting that his father remained active despite his weight. "He was actually quite an active person, even though he was overweight, and so he was on a tennis court and had a heart attack, and my mother was there, and he died in her arms," he said.

Pritzker reported immediate changes after starting the weekly injections. He lost 2 pounds in the first week of using the GLP-1 medication. He described a shift in his appetite shortly after beginning the regimen.

"All of a sudden, on the third day, I was like, you know, actually, I don't need to eat that thing. But it was the strangest feeling. Now, I'm not suggesting everything changed in a week. It didn't happen that way," he said. In addition to the medication, Pritzker walks 4 miles along Lake Michigan in Chicago nearly every morning.

During the 2024 campaign trail, President Donald Trump commented on JB Pritzker's weight. Trump stated, "Pritzker, I don't know, he's too busy eating. He wants to eat all the time." Pritzker addressed his political future during the interview, confirming his intent to seek another term.

"I have not made any decisions about what I might do in the future. I can tell you I want to be the governor of the state of Illinois for a while longer, and I'm running for reelection," he said. He added, "I honestly am focused on what's best for the people of Illinois."

The state has implemented coverage for these treatments for its workforce. Illinois covers GLP-1 medications on the state insurance plan for 55,000 state employees. Pritzker explained the fiscal and health rationale behind the policy.

"Why? We're going to save money. People will be less overweight, which causes so many other diseases," he said. He viewed his personal experience as a way to inform the public about the option. "I have an opportunity just with the platform that I have as governor to tell people that this is something that can work for them. I think they should do it with the doctor's advice, but I can tell you at least for me it has been really life-changing," he said.

Why It Matters

The governor's disclosure shows the integration of GLP-1 medications into state employee health benefits, covering 55,000 individuals. Pritzker linked the coverage to cost savings and disease prevention, citing the connection between overweight conditions and other health issues. His personal weight loss of 80 pounds serves as a public example of the treatment's potential effects when combined with medical advice.