Introduction
George Santos, the former Republican representative for New York, has been a figure of considerable controversy and public interest. Known for fabricating aspects of his past and facing federal fraud charges, Santos has recently garnered attention for his weight loss journey, which he attributes to the use of Ozempic. This article delves into the details of Santos' weight loss, his related comments, and the broader context of his political and personal life.
Santos' Ozempic Use and Weight Loss
Santos has publicly stated that he lost nearly 100 pounds using Ozempic. He revealed that in January 2022, he weighed 350 pounds and decided to make a change. By December 2022, his weight had dropped to 251 pounds. He has openly discussed his use of Ozempic on Meghan McCain's podcast, "Megan McCain Has Entered the Chat." He mentioned that he was pre-diabetic and that Ozempic "totally helped." He further suggested that the FDA should consider it as a weight loss option, given that obesity is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to Santos, he will be on the drug forever because of the alleged pre-diabetes.
However, after everything that happened in his life, he went totally off the rails. Stress caught up with him, and he gained 40 pounds back. Now, George Santos is back on Ozempic again to lose stress-induced weight gain. He wants to lose 70 pounds to weigh in at 200. “OK, I’m 6-foot-2. I don’t want to be skinny,” he says.
Ozempic: A Closer Look
Ozempic is a medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, has also been found to be effective for weight loss. While a separate drug called WeGovy, containing the same active ingredient, is approved for weight loss, Ozempic has gained popularity for off-label use. This surge in demand has led to shortages, impacting diabetic patients who rely on it to manage their glucose levels.
Santos' spokesperson declined to comment on whether the congressman requires Ozempic for diabetes treatment or whether he uses it for weight loss. The spokesperson cited HIPAA law, which protects the privacy of patient health information, as the reason for not disclosing details about Santos' health.
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Cage Fight Jests and Jiu-Jitsu Claims
Adding another layer of intrigue to the narrative, Santos reportedly joked about his physical abilities at a birthday celebration. According to Page Six, there was a suggestion that Santos, 35, should engage in a cage match with Utah Senator Mitt Romney, 76, reminiscent of the potential (but unrealized) fight between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
Santos claimed he could defeat Romney due to his jiu-jitsu skills, stating, "I'd do that, but it wouldn't be fair as I'm Brazilian, and I'd beat his butt because I studied jiu-jitsu for five years." However, Business Insider reports that this is the first time Santos has claimed martial arts training. His spokesperson declined to comment on his training in response to inquiries from the outlet.
Lies and Insecurities
Santos' life has been filled with falsehoods. He fabricated his college diplomas, Wall Street jobs, his Holocaust-fleeing grandparents, his education at the fancy private high school, Horace Mann, the four employees he’d personally lost in the Pulse nightclub shooting, and his Broadway producer gig for Spider-Man. His mother once exclaimed, “Oh my god, Anthony and his stories,” when confronted with his lies.
One of his campaign aides recalled that Santos was excited to talk about body modification. He had just gotten back from having his lips done, he’d gush. “New lips kicked in lol,” he texted once. A House Ethics committee report revealed that Santos used campaign funds on Botox. He talked to one former volunteer about how he’d recently shed weight and also spent big for his Botox. He told a reporter that he’d lost six pounds from walking in his first days in D.C.
A family member of his likes to say that with Santos, it’s “a pebble of truth and a mountain of lies.” He himself has sometimes spit out the word “insecurity” when asked about his résumé myths. He was overheard saying, “I can’t believe that nobody told me what I look like in this vest. I’m out there looking like this in front of this crowd of people. It’s embarrassing.”
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Legal Troubles and Political Downfall
Santos' weight loss journey and humorous boasts contrast sharply with the serious legal challenges he faces. He has been charged with 23 counts of federal crimes, including defrauding investors and laundering stolen money. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in January.
Last May, prosecutors charged Santos with embezzling $50,000 in campaign money to buy designer clothing and pay personal expenses.
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