DJ Khaled Says He Lost 75 Pounds on Wegovy as Novo Nordisk Unveils New Partnership
DJ Khaled says he has lost 75 pounds in about a year on Wegovy, and the drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk, has now signed him to a paid partnership to promote the weight-loss medication. The company announced the campaign, called “Walk, Golf, and Wegovy,” on Thursday, November 12.
The 50-year-old DJ and producer said he began taking the prescription drug in late 2025 after talking with his doctor, and combined it with walking, golf and changes to his diet and exercise routine.
“I’ve been taking Wegovy for a year now and lost 75 pounds, or about 25% of my body weight,” Khaled said in Novo Nordisk’s announcement.
A paid partnership, not just a personal story
The disclosure matters: Khaled is not simply sharing a health update. He is a paid promotional partner for the company that makes the drug he is praising. Novo Nordisk announced the deal on PR Newswire, and Khaled has already posted about the campaign on social media.
Through the partnership, Khaled will share details of his weight-loss journey, including his diet, exercise routine, fatherhood and the moment he decided to seek medical treatment. The campaign builds on his appearance in a Novo Nordisk commercial for oral Wegovy that aired during the 2026 Super Bowl.
Novo Nordisk has not disclosed the payment terms. The company stressed that Khaled’s results reflect his personal experience, not a promise that other patients will see the same outcome.
The numbers do not fully line up
There is a discrepancy in the figures worth flagging. Novo Nordisk’s announcement puts Khaled’s loss at 75 pounds over the past year. But in an interview with People published November 12, Khaled said he previously weighed between 295 and 300 pounds and now weighs between 200 and 212 pounds — a difference closer to 90 pounds.
The Daily Beast, reporting the same interview, also gave his starting weight as about 300 pounds and his current weight as between 200 and 212 pounds. The 75-pound figure is the official number in Novo Nordisk’s announcement; the larger figure reflects the broader weight loss he described in the interview. Neither number has independent medical verification.
Khaled said a moment during a concert in October 2025 pushed him to act, and that a friend had noticed the extra weight was affecting his performance. He credits his routine — walking golf, hitting a daily goal of 10,000 steps — along with the medication for the change. His stated goal, he told People, is to reach about 200 pounds.
What Wegovy is — and what it is not
Wegovy is the brand name for semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved as a prescription treatment for chronic weight management in eligible patients, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
In a 68-week clinical trial of 1,961 adults with obesity or overweight and a related medical condition, participants receiving Wegovy 2.4 mg lost an average of 15% of their body weight, compared with about 2.5% among those receiving a placebo, according to Novo Nordisk.
The drug carries a boxed warning about the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors and is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2. It is not appropriate for everyone, and patients need a prescription and medical supervision.
Related Articles
Why Novo Nordisk is leaning on a celebrity
The campaign comes as Novo Nordisk works to re-energize its obesity franchise after Eli Lilly and drug compounders slowed its growth. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets said in a November 11 note that Novo has shifted its Wegovy marketing to focus on weight loss in addition to real-world health benefits. BMO raised its price target on Novo Nordisk’s U.S.-listed shares to $44 on November 5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight did DJ Khaled lose?
Novo Nordisk says Khaled lost 75 pounds, or about 25% of his body weight, in a year on Wegovy. In a People interview, Khaled described going from 295–300 pounds to 200–212 pounds, which would be closer to 90 pounds.
Is DJ Khaled paid to promote Wegovy?
Yes. The partnership announced November 12 is a paid promotional deal with Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy. Khaled’s posts about the campaign are part of that partnership.
What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a prescription GLP-1 medication containing semaglutide, approved for chronic weight management in eligible patients when used with diet and exercise. It requires a doctor’s prescription and is not suitable for everyone.
Will everyone lose the same amount on Wegovy?
No. In a 68-week trial, patients on Wegovy 2.4 mg lost an average of 15% of their body weight. Individual results vary, and Novo Nordisk says Khaled’s results are his personal experience.
What to watch next
Khaled is expected to keep posting about his routine through the campaign, including his diet, workouts and family life. For readers considering a GLP-1 medication, the key takeaway is the one Novo Nordisk itself includes in the fine print: the results are personal, the drug requires a prescription, and anyone interested should talk to their own doctor first.
Sources
- Novo Nordisk / PR Newswire — partnership announcement, November 12, 2026
- Fierce Pharma — “Novo amps up Wegovy marketing with DJ Khaled partnership,” November 13, 2026 — https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/novo-amps-wegovy-marketing-dj-khaled-spinning-his-weight-loss-tale
- Chain Drug Review — “Novo Nordisk taps DJ Khaled for Wegovy campaign,” November 12, 2026 — https://chaindrugreview.com/novo-nordisk-taps-dj-khaled-for-wegovy-campaign/
- Daily Beast — DJ Khaled weight report, November 12, 2026
- People via Us Weekly / Reality Tea — DJ Khaled weight-loss interview, November 12–13, 2026 — https://www.realitytea.com/2026/11/13/dj-khaled-90-pounds-weightloss-journey-reveal/
- AllHipHop — “DJ Khaled Reveals 75-Pound Loss As Wegovy Campaign Expands,” November 13, 2026 — https://allhiphop.com/news/dj-khaled-reveals-75-pound-loss-as-wegovy-campaign-expands/
