Celebrities are being surprisingly honest about their experiences with GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, and the reality is far more complicated than before-and-after photos suggest. While some stars have achieved significant weight loss and improved health, others have abandoned these drugs due to debilitating side effects. Their candid accounts offer a window into how these medications actually work in real life, beyond the hype and marketing .

Which Celebrities Have Tried GLP-1 Drugs, and What Happened?

A growing number of millennial celebrities have publicly discussed their experiences with GLP-1 medications, a class of drugs originally developed for type 2 diabetes management. The transparency from these public figures is notable because it reflects a broader cultural shift toward honest conversations about weight loss and health .

Chrissy Teigen revealed on her podcast "Self-Conscious" in 2025 that she used a GLP-1 medication after experiencing a miscarriage in 2020. She explained that her body felt "completely stuck" after gaining an extra 40 pounds during pregnancy that she wasn't comfortable with. Teigen's willingness to discuss both the emotional context and the medication itself demonstrates how these drugs fit into real-life health journeys .

Musician Meghan Trainor took a different approach, publicly crediting Mounjaro, a GLP-1 medication similar to Ozempic, for helping her after her second pregnancy. On Instagram in 2025, she wrote that she had "worked with a dietician, made huge lifestyle changes, started exercising with a trainer, and yes, I used science and support (shoutout to Mounjaro!) to help me after my 2nd pregnancy." Her before-and-after photos show a dramatic transformation, and she emphasized feeling great as a result .

Kelly Clarkson also used a weight-loss medication, though she was careful to clarify it wasn't Ozempic. During a 2024 episode of "The Kelly Clarkson Show," she explained that her doctor had pursued her for two years before she agreed to medication because she was afraid of it due to her existing thyroid problems. She noted that her bloodwork had become concerning enough to warrant the intervention .

What Happens When Side Effects Become Unbearable?

Not every celebrity's experience with GLP-1 drugs has been positive. Some have reported side effects severe enough to stop taking the medication entirely, raising important questions about tolerability and individual variation in response to these drugs .

Comedian Amy Schumer shared on "The Howard Stern Show" in 2025 that she tried Ozempic almost three years ago but experienced debilitating side effects. "I tried Ozempic almost three years ago, and I was, like, bedridden. I was vomiting," she explained, adding that the side effects were too much for her to continue. Despite stopping the medication, Schumer did manage to lose weight, suggesting that other lifestyle factors may have contributed to her transformation .

Model Brooks Nader had a more nuanced experience. While GLP-1 medication helped her lose 30 pounds and her career "took off" after the weight loss, she expressed ambivalence about the drugs. "When I started GLP-1, my career took off," she said. "I lost 30 pounds, and I booked all the jobs." However, she later acknowledged feeling that the medication had become a "crutch" and expressed a desire to quit, stating, "It's not healthy. I should get off it; I'll be honest about that" .

How Are Celebrities Approaching Weight Loss Beyond Just Medication?

Several celebrities have emphasized that medication alone isn't the whole story. Many have combined GLP-1 drugs with comprehensive lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications, exercise, and professional support. This multi-pronged approach appears to be more effective and sustainable than relying on medication alone .

• Dietary Changes: Lizzo explained that she switched from a vegan diet to a more carnivore-leaning approach, finding that she had been consuming too many carbs while vegan. She emphasized that the core principle is "calories in vs. calories out" and that GLP-1 drugs work by making you feel full so you eat less food. She noted that achieving the same effect through willpower alone is possible if you can manage it .
• Professional Support: Meghan Trainor worked with a dietician and a personal trainer alongside using Mounjaro, suggesting that professional guidance enhances results. This combination of medication, nutrition counseling, and exercise appears to have contributed to her successful transformation .
• Microdosing Strategies: Rebel Wilson revealed that she used a microdosing approach with GLP-1 medication to maintain her weight after already losing a significant amount through lifestyle changes. Her OB-GYN suggested exploring the medication after she had already achieved substantial weight loss through diet and exercise modifications .

Tennis legend Serena Williams offered a particularly candid perspective on why even highly disciplined athletes sometimes need medication. Despite her reputation for fitness and healthy living, Williams partnered with the company Ro to promote GLP-1 medication, explaining that she struggled with stubborn weight that wouldn't budge regardless of her efforts. "Sometimes, no matter what you do, no matter how many steps you take, how many miles you run, you just can't get over that hump. I know that for a fact," she said. "As a woman, as I age, I definitely couldn't get over that hump." Her experience highlights that these medications can be helpful even for people who are already very active and health-conscious .

What Do These Celebrity Experiences Reveal About GLP-1 Medications?

The collective experiences of these celebrities paint a picture of GLP-1 drugs as powerful tools that work differently for different people. Some key patterns emerge from their accounts: the medications can produce dramatic weight loss results, but side effects can be severe enough to warrant stopping; they work best when combined with lifestyle changes rather than used alone; and individual tolerance varies significantly .

Amanda Bynes, the former Nickelodeon star, documented her weight loss journey on social media, sharing that she lost 28 pounds on Ozempic, dropping from 180 pounds to 152 pounds. She noted that while she still felt she looked "big," the progress was "really inspiring" to her. Her willingness to share specific numbers and acknowledge that the journey is ongoing reflects a more realistic portrayal of weight loss than the polished before-and-after photos often seen in media .

Reality star Whitney Leavitt from "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" described semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy, as her "secret sauce" for weight loss. She explained that the medication was "regulating my blood sugar and just like, killing the fat," highlighting how these drugs work on multiple metabolic levels beyond simple appetite suppression .

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The transparency from these millennial celebrities stands in stark contrast to earlier eras of celebrity culture, when weight loss was often presented as effortless or achieved through extreme measures without acknowledgment of the tools being used. Today's celebrities are more likely to discuss the medical, emotional, and lifestyle components of their weight loss journeys, providing a more honest and nuanced picture for their audiences, particularly young people who look up to them .