Former NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has playfully mocked his longtime friend and Inside the NBA co-host Charles Barkley over his weight loss efforts. The lighthearted exchange occurred during an interview with boxing icon Evander Holyfield, where O’Neal used the opportunity to take a humorous jab at Barkley.
As O’Neal welcomed Holyfield to The Big Podcast, he couldn’t help but commend the retired boxer for maintaining his physical fitness. He jokingly asked Holyfield for his secret.
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“Can I get a list of the vitamins that you take? Because you’re looking beautiful right now. I don’t want to end up looking like your good friend Charles Barkley,” he noted.
“Barkley‘s the only guy that’s taking a fat drug and getting fatter.”
The remark was a nod to Barkley‘s 2023 admission that he used Mounjaro, an injectable medication typically prescribed for type 2 diabetes, to aid in his weight loss journey. Barkley revealed that he had lost 60 pounds after using the drug for six months.
Barkley’s weight loss journey
Barkley‘s use of Mounjaro is not unique among public figures. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also credited the medication for helping with weight loss. Despite O’Neal‘s teasing, Barkley has been open about his struggles with weight management and his determination to prioritize his health.
“At some point, I’ve got to get off the drug, but I feel so good physically,” Barkley told the Dan Patrick Show. “I’ve got to make sure I don’t get fat again. You don’t even realize how crappy you feel until you start losing weight.”
