Side-By-Side Photo Of JD Vance's Weight Loss Puts His Lifestyle Into Sharp Focus

JD Vance's weight-loss transformation almost immediately sparked Ozempic rumors. To some, it might have appeared as if the vice president managed to shed 30 pounds overnight. However, side-by-side photos of Vance from 2022 and 2026 make it clear that his was a gradual transformation. For his part, the former Ohio senator clearly told the Daily Mail in August 2025 that weight loss drugs played absolutely no part in his journey. 

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Vance went on to detail the lifestyle changes that had helped him along the way, saying, "Obviously, you eat a little bit less, but it's also just eating better. I tend to skip breakfast, whereas before I would have, like, you know, three waffles and scrambled eggs and bacon." 

While skipping breakfast may have helped the "Hillbilly Elegy" author in his journey, studies have shown mixed results about its effectiveness for weight loss. According to a 2019 Harvard Medical School article, a compilation of seven studies found that, on average, people who ate breakfast gained 1.2 pounds in comparison to those who skipped it. An aggregation of another 10 studies showed that breakfast eaters tended to consume 260 additional calories than the skippers. Additional research has shown that not consuming food in the morning can give your metabolic system a chance to burn fat for fuel. 

In contrast, a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2014 found that not having breakfast didn't have a significant effect on weight loss. It's also worth noting that there are plenty of strange things that can happen to your body when you skip eating breakfast. Still, it seems to be working for Vance.

During JD Vance's interview with the Daily Mail, he shared that he was prompted to make lifestyle changes around 2022 after realizing that he was breathless while playing with his children. To start, the vice president carved out room for gym sessions in his busy schedule and took up running. 

Whether he realized it or not, Vance picked a science-backed exercise regimen for weight loss. As CNN noted, a study conducted by Duke University compared how three groups lost weight using cardio exercises, strength training, and a combination of the two. After the 8-month study concluded, the group that combined cardio and strength training managed to lose more fat and gain more lean muscle mass than its peers. 

As for Vance, he had built up enough endurance to take on a 90-minute physical training session with Navy SEALs by December 2025. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the MAGA politician admitted that the workout felt like he "got hit by a freight train," but the important thing is that he managed to get it done anyway. 

Additionally, during the MAHA Summit in November 2025, Vance told RFK Jr. that the Marine Corps workout had been an "incredible guidepost to [him] getting back in shape" (via YouTube). He went on to describe that the grueling workout consisted of a 3-mile run, followed by a planking exercise and pull-ups. 

Vance ultimately hoped to develop enough endurance to take on the infamous Pete & Bobby Challenge, which requires the participant to do 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups in 5 minutes. However, there is a real problem with RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth's fitness challenge if you allow form to fall by the wayside.     

While introducing JD Vance at the 2024 Republican National Convention, Usha Vance said, "Although he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, he adapted to my vegetarian diet and learned to cook food from my mother" (via YouTube). Meanwhile, during a November 2024 appearance on the "Joe Rogan Experience," the vice president encouraged people to try incorporating ingredients like chickpeas, paneer, and rice into their vegetarian diets instead of opting for fake meats.

By incorporating his wife's vegetarian food choices into his diet, JD could have made it easier for himself to lose weight. As the Obesity Medicine Association notes, high fiber foods can make people feel fuller, which in turn can reduce excessive calorie consumption. Meanwhile, Weight Watchers writes that fiber-rich food like vegetables can make it easier to create high-volume meals that are lower in calories. To top it all off, research has also shown that a high-fiber diet can trigger increased levels of the GLP-1 hormone, mimicking the appetite-suppressing effect of medications like Ozempic. 

Although JD appears to prioritize nutrient-rich ingredients, he does leave room for his favorite foods. For instance, during an October 2024 town hall, the former Ohio Senator shared that he loved baking with his children and went on to describe how they had made everything from cinnamon rolls, dulce de leche rolls, and chocolate chip scones over the course of three days (via Instagram). In a chat with Business Insider, the Mayo Clinic Diet's lead dietitian, Tara Schmidt, professed that making room for your favorite foods could make a weight loss journey more sustainable and ultimately be a simple way to maintain weight loss in the long run.