Josh Gad, the actor known for voicing Olaf in Frozen, has recently shared details about his weight loss journey, revealing that he has been using a GLP-1 medication. In a conversation on the "Armchair Expert" podcast with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, Gad openly discussed his experiences with weight loss drugs, including the challenges, benefits, and psychological aspects of his transformation.
Discovering GLP-1 Medications
During his appearance on the "Armchair Expert" podcast on Monday, January 27, Gad revealed that he's on a GLP-1. GLP-1 drugs are a class of prescription medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, that helps regulate blood sugar by boosting insulin production. Taken as a weekly injection, these drugs slow digestion, reduce appetite, and promote weight loss. Clinical studies show that medications can help users lose between 5% and 20% of their body weight over time.
Gad explained that these medications have significantly suppressed his hunger and cravings. "It has suppressed, in a great way, that noise," Gad explained. "When I wake up, I feel hunger pains, and so much of that is psychological. And what this does is it takes away that signal." He even referred to the medication as a "miracle drug."
Navigating the Challenges
Gad's path to finding the right weight loss solution wasn't without obstacles. Initially, he lost 40 pounds on a different medication. After losing 40 pounds on an initial medication, the In Gad We Trust author found that it had caused him to develop the gastrointestinal disease diverticulitis. "I was on a different drug that caused me diverticulitis," he said. "And I had lost 40 pounds, and I was really bummed out because it was working incredibly for me, and I had to switch."
Diverticulitis is an "inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine" that can cause severe pain, fever, nausea and changes in stool habits, according to Mayo Clinic. The research into whether there is a link between weight-loss drugs and diverticulitis is ongoing.
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This setback led him to explore other options, eventually finding a new GLP-1 medication that has proven to be life-changing. “So I'm figuring out this new one, and it is life-changing."
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
While Gad acknowledged the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, he emphasized that they should not replace a healthy lifestyle. "It also doesn’t negate the fact that it can’t be in the place of having a healthy relationship with food," he added. "It can’t be in the place of having a healthy relationship with exercise."
Gad stressed the importance of combining medication with mindful eating habits and regular physical activity to achieve sustainable and holistic well-being.
Addressing Guilt and Societal Perceptions
Gad admitted to grappling with feelings of guilt about using weight loss medication. "Sometimes I feel like I’m cheating myself by doing this," he confessed. He also acknowledged the societal pressures and judgments surrounding weight loss, particularly in Hollywood.
Despite these concerns, Gad recognized the importance of prioritizing his health and well-being. "I’m actually really happy that I’m opening up about this because I’m having my own journey with it," he said.
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The Impact on Identity and Career
Gad, who has often been cast as the "funny fat guy," also pondered how his weight loss might affect his career and public image. "I’ve always been the funny fat guy. Can I be the funny skinny guy?" he asked. "Can I be the hot leading man? I don’t know that people would accept me as those things."
He expressed concerns about being typecast and the challenges of breaking free from established roles. "We get typecast. We do a thing and people see us as that thing, and I’ve been very blessed that I continue to challenge myself to not be typecast, to do things that nobody expects."
Prioritizing Family and Health
Ultimately, Gad's primary motivation for pursuing weight loss is his family. "I’m not as worried about [my career] because my primary goal is, I want to be there for my kids," Gad remarked. "Everything else is bulls---."
He emphasized the importance of being present and healthy for his two daughters, Ava and Isabella, whom he shares with his wife, Ida Darvish.
Other Celebrities and Their Experiences with Weight Loss Medications
Gad is not the only celebrity who has spoken about their experiences with weight loss medications. Many others have shared their stories, both positive and negative, shedding light on the complexities and challenges of using these drugs.
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Rosie O'Donnell
The comedian has been on the anti-Type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro since late 2022. "I cant believe this is me now," Rosie wrote on her Instagram, "#mounjaro #weightloss #bodydismorphia."
Meghan Trainor
Meghan Trainor and her husband, Daryl Sabara, have both used Mounjaro. They each opted to get on the lowest dose possible of Monjaro, combining the shots with exercise and balanced meals. “Daryl and I both do everything together," the "All About That Bass" singer explained. "And we started that journey.”
Kendra Wilkinson
Former Girls Next Door star Kendra Wilkinson gave one unnamed weight loss injectable a shot. Exactly one, to be precise. “I started the weight loss shots,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories in April 2025. “Only did one. Nevermind. Ultimately, said the Playboy model, she wasn't interested in hopping into any potential health risks. “Heard too many horror stories around me,” explained the mom of two. “People end up in ER. Surgeries.
Amy Schumer
"I was one of those people that felt so sick and couldn't play with my son," Schumer recalled. "I was so skinny, and he's throwing a ball at me and [I couldn't]."
Caroline Stanbury
"After 40, we all know it's very, very hard to lose weight," she said in the May 22 episode of her podcast Uncut & Uncensored With Caroline Stanbury. "But I met so many 40-year-old women going, 'How have you done it?' And I don't want to lie to you, I used Ozempic, which I think is one of the best tools if you're able to use it."
Jennifer Aydin
The Real Housewives of New Jersey star declared "I am not on Ozempic" during a July 2024 Watch What Happens Live interview before hilariously adding, "I'm on Mounjaro, okay. I'm sorry! I love being this weight, I love it!
Brooke Burke
“I can’t speak medically about it, but I do know that there’s so much information about what’s working and what’s not,” she shared during part of an interview with Fox News Digital. “I have a daily battle with myself not to go on Ozempic,” Jade told The Guardian in August 2025.
Raven-Symoné
"I think it's very important we understand certain medications are made for certain people," the actress told E! Raven continued, "Do what you gotta do, just make sure you save the medication for the people who actually need it."
Sharon Osbourne
"Whatever you choose is up to you," she exclusively told E! News.
Kate Walsh
"I actually don't know what Ozempic is," Kate admitted to The New York Times Magazine in an interview published in March 2024. "Oh, my God," Kate remarked after learning about the injectable. "This sounds terrible."
Heidi Montag
The Hills star revealed in December 2023 that she'd recently lost 22 pounds-without taking Ozempic. "There's no shortcuts in life. And if you're taking that shortcut, I don't know," she told Page Six of other celebrities using the drug. Heidi noted, "I want something that is sustainable.
Chelsea Handler
Ozempic is no laughing matter for the comedian. "I didn't even know I was on it," she said during the Jan. 25, 2023 episode of Call Her Daddy. "I came back from a vacation and I injected myself with it," she recalled. "I went to lunch with a girlfriend a few days later, and she was like, 'I'm not really eating anything.
Dr. Drew Pinsky
"People have a mixed feeling about interventions like this," Dr. Drew exclusively told E! News at Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test season two event in Los Angeles on Sept. 12, 2023.