Robert F. Kennedy Junior wants to standard backmost the nation's reliance connected Ozempic, claiming Americans hooked connected the cause are 'stupid' and 'addicted.'
Estimates suggest much than 9million prescriptions for Ozempic and akin weight loss drugs are written each twelvemonth successful the US — 1 of the world's fattest nations.
But Mr Kennedy says the wealth utilized connected the drugs — up to $1,600 per period — would beryllium amended suited for supplying balanced and steadfast meals to families.
The Health and Human Services caput nominee told the precocious nighttime amusement Gutfeld! past month: 'We are spending $1.6k a period connected this drug. There is simply a measure close present earlier Congress that volition marque it disposable to everybody who is overweight... that unsocial volition outgo $3trillion a year.
'If we walk astir 1 5th of that giving bully food, 3 meals a day, to each man, pistillate and kid successful our country, we could lick the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight.'
Mr Kennedy, a famed vaccine skeptic who claims WiFi causes cancer and AIDS is not caused by HIV, besides said Americans were being taken vantage of by cause companies and claimed Ozempic is not recommended successful the state wherever it was invented, which isn't wholly accurate.
Authorities successful Denmark, location to its shaper Novo Nordisk, person approved Ozempic for benignant 2 diabetics and Wegovy for value nonaccomplishment patients — with astir 100,000 prescriptions present written each year.
But they are urging doctors to prescribe cheaper alternatives, saying radical request to walk tens of thousands of dollars connected the shots earlier they summation important wellness benefits.
Mr Kennedy is pictured supra connected the amusement talking astir Ozempic
Speaking connected the show, RFK added: 'They marque this cause successful Denmark and successful Denmark they bash not urge it for diabetes oregon obesity. They urge dietary oregon behavioral changes.
'They [Novo Nordisk, its manufacturer] are counting connected selling it to Americans due to the fact that we're truthful anserine and truthful addicted to drugs.'
About 74 percent of Americans are overweight oregon obese, according to the CDC — the highest level ever recorded.
Studies suggest radical tin suffer astir 1 to 2 pounds a week connected Ozempic oregon Wegovy, but a batch of this value nonaccomplishment comes from nonaccomplishment of musculus wide alternatively than fat.
Doctors prescribing the cause already inquire patients to devour a steadfast and high-protein fare and follow an progressive lifestyle.
This is to assistance them support musculus wide and to assistance guarantee idiosyncratic does not summation backmost the value erstwhile they travel disconnected the drug.
Mr Kennedy made the comments aft helium was asked astir a abstracted survey that suggested Ozempic reduced the hazard of intoxicant maltreatment by 50 percent.
This whitethorn bespeak a reduced hazard of intelligence wellness problems, contempt immoderate reports antecedently suggesting the cause could origin slump and suicidal thoughts.
'I request to look astatine the methodology of that survey due to the fact that I don't judge it,' helium said.
'The EU close present is investigating Ozempic for suicidal ideation, but it whitethorn beryllium that the cause suppresses the reward pathways, truthful it makes you wanna bash everything less, and that whitethorn beryllium portion of the answer.'
He was speaking successful October, aft the EU's cause regulator — the European Medicines Agency — said determination was 'no link' betwixt the cause and suicidal thoughts.
The FDA besides concluded successful August determination was nary accrued hazard of termination among patients connected Ozempic compared to those not taking the drug.
He is shown supra taking a interruption from Make America Healthy Again arsenic helium chows down connected immoderate McDonald's connected Trump's jet
Doctors inactive say, however, that it is imaginable patients connected the cause could beryllium near struggling with feelings of sadness if they had utilized nutrient arsenic a 'coping mechanism'.
Ozempic does bring a fig of wellness benefits from value loss, however, including a reduced hazard of a bosom onslaught and feeling much assured astir someone's appearance.
A landmark proceedings of 17,000 overweight oregon obese patients, researchers recovered Wegovy slashed the hazard of a bosom attack, changeable and decease from bosom illness by 20 percent compared to those who did not instrumentality the drug.
Doctors responding to RFK's comments accused him of spreading misinformation.
Dr Michael Osterholm, a apical infectious illness researcher astatine the University of Minnesota, told CNN: 'He acts similar helium knows what he's talking astir erstwhile helium doesn't.
'And helium says things with a explanation that makes radical convinced helium has the information to enactment his statements.
'Trying to travel him and recognize what he's talking astir is often similar trying to nail Jell-O to the wall.'
The 'Make America Healthy Again' campaigner has promised to boost the nation's wellness done a crackdown connected processed foods and additives — a determination cautiously welcomed by galore nationalist wellness campaigners.
He has vowed to commencement trying to region processed foods from schoolhouse cafeterias connected his archetypal time successful office, and prohibition dyes linked to hyperactivity utilized successful foods specified arsenic Froot Loops and Skittles.