- Comedian and Emmy-nominated actor Kym Whitley opens up about her long journey with weight management.
- The “Happy Gilmore 2” actor credits her weight loss story to the GLP-1 medication Zepbound.
- Whitley has teamed up with drug manufacturer Eli Lilly to share how the medication has changed her life.
Emmy-nominated actor, comedian, and podcaster Kym Whitley, known for her roles in “Happy Gilmore 2,” “The Bay,” and “Young & Hungry,” has had difficulty managing her weight for most of her adult life.
“I would lose weight and then I would gain weight, and after a while, I felt stuck. I got frustrated and one thing I’ve [learned] is that obesity is a disease, it is not a lifestyle, it’s a disease, and I needed help,” Whitley told Healthline.
After years of trying different diets and exercise regimens without success, Whitley met with her doctor to discuss her options.
Her doctor recommended the GLP-1 drug Zepbound, along with healthy eating and regular exercise. Zepbound is a highly effective FDA-approved anti-obesity medication with the active ingredient tirzepatide.
“Zepbound has given me the tool to manage my obesity, and that is just the truth,” said Whitley. “I’m not saying I go to the gym and kill myself, but I get on the elliptical and I started 15 minutes a day. That has been very helpful.”
Since starting the medication four months ago, Whitley has shared that she has lost weight. But for Whitley, it’s about more than the number on the scale. She’s now teamed up with Zepbound’s drug manufacturer, Eli Lilly, to share her experience.
“It’s a whole different journey for me,” she said. “I don’t think of this as a vanity thing — that I have to fit in this dress or that I have to look a certain way. When I learned about obesity as a disease, I know that I need this tool to manage it, so for me, using Zepbound is part of my life.”
Whitley shared that Zepbound has helped her to make better choices at work and home.
“I’m enjoying going to work and picking out healthy food because every TV show and movie [has] a spread. Having the tool to manage the obesity really helps me and makes me happy that I can go to the craft service table and make healthy choices,” she said.
As a mom, she is enjoying being more active with her son by going on bike rides and playing pickleball and tennis.
“Being in Hollywood, easily it can be about vanity; it really can, and now that I have a son, it’s not about vanity for me. It’s about living a healthy lifestyle and showing my son how to do that and being able to enjoy things like going outside. If he wants to do something, [I’m like] OK, I can do it, let’s go,” she shared.
As Whitley reflected on her weight loss journey, she said that in the past, she neglected making healthy choices because she always put her son’s needs first.
“[I] had to make a decision to put myself first, really, and just get unstuck, and I had to really, really come to grips that obesity is a disease and that I need a tool to manage it,” she said.
“If you are struggling with obesity or with your weight, go to your doctor and ask [questions].”
Karl Nadolsky, DO, director of the Endocrine Clinic at the Gym and professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, said tirzepatide is best for those with severe obesity and related conditions like type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.
“The research does show that tirzepatide is more effective for weight loss and blood sugar management compared to other GLP-1s for obesity and type 2 diabetes,” Nadolsky told Healthline.
Kais Rona, MD, bariatric surgeon of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center, added that tirzepatide is currently the most effective weight loss drug on the market.
“Unlike other GLP-1 medications, Zepbound has a dual-action mechanism, which targets both the GLP-1 and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors,” he told Healthline.
Rona added that for this reason, the medication appears to have greater effects on appetite suppression and fat metabolism.
He cited the SURMOUNT trial, funded by Eli Lilly, which demonstrated that participants who were treated with Zepbound lost an average of 20% of their body weight versus 14% in those treated with semaglutide.
“The decision to determine which GLP-1 medication is best for a patient is based on multiple factors [and] is a joint one made with a patient and catered to their specific needs and goals,” said Rona.
“In reality, it often comes down to cost, coverage, dosing preferences, those specific comorbidities, and tolerance,” Nadolski said.
When caloric intake is reduced as a result, some people may be at risk of protein deficiency, muscle loss, and dehydration.
Gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation, are also possible, so eating a well-balanced diet that includes high fiber foods is important while taking GLP-1 drugs.
“Having regular follow-up with a physician is important to both ensure a patient is having good weight loss results and to identify and treat side effects expeditiously,” Rona noted.
When prescribed as directed for weight management, Zepbound and other GLP-1 drugs are considered safe and effective. However, because these medications may come with some risks, any concerns should be discussed with your doctor.
