Dr. Oz Proclaims Americans Could Lose ‘135 Billion Pounds’ by Midterm Elections with New Weight Loss Drug Pricing

Dr. Mehmet Oz claimed that Americans could collectively shed billions of pounds within the next year, thanks to new efforts to make weight-loss medications more affordable.

During a Thursday, Nov. 6, press conference in the Oval Office, Oz — who serves as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — announced that the Trump administration’s new deal to lower the cost of GLP-1 medications could lead to major nationwide weight loss.

Oz initially stated that Americans could lose “135 billion pounds” by the midterm elections, which are less than a year away. “We thought it was 125 million pounds. Mr. President, our estimate — based on the company numbers as well — Americans will lose 135 billion pounds by the midterms,” he said, referencing internal data analysis. “But I don’t measure it in pounds; I measure it in saving lives.”

If Americans were to lose a combined 135 billion pounds, that would amount to about 393 pounds per person, as Stephen Colbert humorously pointed out later on The Late Show.

Oz later clarified the figure, telling The Hill that he had meant 135 million pounds, not billion. “One hundred and thirty-five million pounds dramatically changes the architecture of illness in America,” he explained, adding that roughly a quarter of the country’s total healthcare costs stem from obesity and related conditions.

President Donald Trump also spoke at the event, announcing new deals with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to reduce prices for popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. “Both companies have agreed to offer their most popular GLP-1 weight-loss drug at drastic discounts,” Trump said.

Oz emphasized that the agreement could make these medications — such as Ozempic and Wegovy — accessible to more people, noting that they’ve previously been affordable only for “affluent” Americans.

Under the plan, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk will sell GLP-1 injections for $350 per month when purchased through TrumpRx, a discount platform for cash prescription payments. Medicare and Medicaid recipients will pay $245 monthly beginning in mid-2026, while oral versions — once available — will be priced at $149 per month.

Currently, GLP-1 medications typically cost between $1,000 and $1,350 depending on insurance coverage. Novo Nordisk charges $499 per month for all doses of Wegovy, while Eli Lilly offers its lowest dose at $349, with higher doses priced at $499.

Oz predicted that the price cuts could ultimately save taxpayer money: “If we can be smart about this, we’ll actually use these medications to drop the amount of total healthcare spend that we’ll have to incur. Within two years of this deal, the American taxpayer will be saving money.”