Charles Barkley lost 62 pounds on Mounjaro

Charles Barkley has lost over 60 pounds in six months since taking the drug Mounjaro, which he describes as "amazing." The drug is similar to Ozempic and Wegovy and works by suppressing appetite. Barkley, a former NBA star, credits a weekly shot of the drug, along with healthy diet and exercise, for his weight loss. His motivation for losing weight is to live longer. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, was designed to treat diabetes, but a clinical trial found that patients lost 20% of their body weight in 16 months while using it. Although the FDA has not yet approved tirzepatide for weight loss, it can be used off-label for this purpose. Barkley did not disclose whether he was being treated for diabetes. His doctor prefers Mounjaro over Ozempic.

While obesity can be life-threatening, a person's weight alone does not determine their health, and other factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol levels give a fuller picture. Read more about this story on Insider.