In a September Sun-Times interview, Gov. JB Pritzker revealed he has lost 80 pounds since spring 2024 with help from a GLP-1 medication. His doctor first diagnosed him with prediabetes. Later, when Pritzker was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, he began taking insulin — and ultimately an undisclosed GLP-1 drug.
The medication — combined with exercise and diet — has been so effective that Pritzker, 61, stopped taking insulin nine months ago, and his blood sugar levels are normal, he said. Pritzker plans to continue to lose weight.
The governor said he wanted to talk openly about his weight loss journey, largely in part because he knows millions of Americans are suffering from obesity-related health conditions. The disclosure also comes just months before Democrats are expected to announce their intentions for president. For now, Pritzker said he’s focusing on winning his third term for governor in November.
What are GLP-1s?
GLP-1s are a class of drugs, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, that mainly help manage blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to Cleveland Clinic. Some GLP-1 agonists can also help treat obesity and promote weight loss. Well-known brands include Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound.
To learn more about how GLP-1s work, look to sources such as healthcare providers such as Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic and medical experts from Stanford, Tufts and Harvard. They also detail the benefits, risks and side effects of GLP-1s.
Who might be eligible for GLP-1s?
Generally, GLP-1s are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adults aged 18 years and older with certain body mass indexes, typically 30 or above.
Those with a BMI of 27 or above could be eligible if they have a weight-related health condition such as hypertension, high cholesterol, weight-related anxiety, liver disease, sleep apnea or polycystic ovary syndrome, according to pharmacy chain Walgreens.
People with BMI of 27 or higher who are prediabetic, had a previous heart attack, stroke, or have blocked arteries in their legs or arms with symptoms might also be eligible.
Healthcare providers may also prescribe GLP-1s for people who are overweight, along with other health conditions, if losing weight can help manage the coexisting conditions, according to Cleveland Clinic.Overweight is generally a BMI of 25 to 29.9. Asians with a BMI of 23 or higher may have an increased risk of health problems, according to Mayo Clinic.
Will health insurance cover GLP-1s?
Coverage depends on your medical eligibility and health insurance. Insurance often covers GLP-1s for treating Type 2 diabetes. Most plans typically do not cover GLP-1s for weight loss alone.
Whether insurance will cover the cost of GLP-1s can be complicated, depending on eligibility and types of coverage.
Coverage also varies by state. In Illinois, eligible state workers are covered by insurance.
Illinois expanded coverage for eligible state workers in July 2023 under the state’s group health insurance program. (Pritzker started taking GLP-1 injections in spring 2024.)
GLP-1 coverage was previously available for state workers diagnosed with diabetes — but the expansion covered the drug for weight loss.
The state’s expanded coverage cost $147 million in fiscal year 2025. The high cost has been criticized, but officials say there are benefits in the long run.
“By adding coverage for injectable weight loss medications to state health insurance plans, more people will have a chance to eliminate long-term health problems,” Cathy Kwiatkowski, Illinois Department of Central Management Services spokesperson, told the Sun-Times.
She said people on the state program with prediabetes, gestational diabetes or obesity are eligible for the drugs if “deemed medically appropriate by the physician,” and enrollees have to participate in a “lifestyle management program.”
Notably, Medicaid in Illinois covers GLP-1s with a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis but not for weight loss.
If insurance doesn’t cover GLP-1s, can you pay out of pocket? If so, how much can the medication cost?
It’s possible to pay out of pocket for a prescription. It’s best to discuss options with a medical expert and health insurer.
Self-pay options vary. For example, the list price for all dosages of Ozempic pens and pills is $1,027.51, according to Novocare, part of drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which makes Ozempic. (Monthly dosage depends on the individual.) List price is the manufacturer’s original price before any discounts. But most people don’t pay the list price if they have health insurance, according to Novocare’s website.
Purchasing GLP-1s from the manufacturer may be cheaper. For example, Novo Nordisk offers the Wegovy pill for $149 to $299 per month, depending on dosage. Its injectable pen costs up to $399 per month.
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly offers Zepbound for $299 to $449 per month, depending on dosage.
For a ballpark estimate, Weight Watchers has an online GLP-1 cost calculator. It gives an estimate based on your height, weight, health insurance provider and type of GLP-1 medication.
Are there health risks to GLP-1s?
Yes. Anyone considering GLP-1s should consult a medical expert.
According to healthcare providers Kaiser Permanente and Mayo Clinic, GLP-1s may not be right for people with a history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (a type of thyroid cancer) or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (tumors in endocrine glands), for those with a history of disordered eating and during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Potential side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and acid reflux, as well as higher risk of bowel obstructions and pancreatitis. GLP-1s may increase depression and risk for suicide.
GLP-1s are relatively new, with the FDA approving the first one in 2005, said Cleveland Clinic. Researchers are still learning about them. “Until more long-term studies are done, the risk to humans isn’t known,” said Mayo Clinic.
What are other risks?
This year, about 11% of U.S. adults — nearly 30 million people – are taking GLP-1s for weight loss purposes, according to a Gallup survey this summer. That’s a big jump from 3% in 2024.
With high demand comes misuse and more unapproved versions of the drugs.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul last year warned about sellers offering potentially harmful unapproved versions of GLP-1s. He urged consumers to get prescriptions from reputable health care providers and to fill prescriptions at licensed pharmacies.
Raoul warned consumers about “misleading advertising by med spas, wellness centers, online retailers and social media sellers” offering compounded drugs not approved by the FDA.
The FDA has also raised concerns about unapproved versions of GLP-1s. The agency’s list of red flags includes sellers that offer medicine at “deep discounts or prices that seem too good to be true” or don’t require a screening and prescription by a licensed doctor.
In the rush to use GLP-1s, more people are misusing and overdosing on medication, as well as using unapproved versions without prescriptions.
In just one year, calls to Illinois poison centers for overdoses or side effects of injectable weight loss drugs have more than doubled, according to NBC Chicago in August.
Nationwide, Poison Centers have seen a nearly 1,500% increase in calls since 2019 related to overdose or side effects of injectable weight-loss drugs. Poison Centers represents the 53 accredited poison control centers in the U.S.
Quality problems with any medications can be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.