Kelly Clarkson opens up about how she's 'dropped weight' (2024)

Kelly Clarkson has been open about her weight loss. And she's recently detailed the lifestyle changes she's made for her long-term health.

During a Jan. 29 episode of her talk show, she revealed she was prediabetic.

When actor Kevin James appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she shared the news of her diagnosis with him. "I wasn’t shocked," Clarkson told him. "I was a tiny bit overweight ... But they were like, ‘You’re prediabetic. You’re right on the borderline.’ And I was like, ‘But I’m not there yet.'"

Two years after finding out, she decided to do something about it and change her lifestyle habits.

Having prediabetes means your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but still lower than the range for Type 2 diabetes, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Exercise and a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of it progressing.

Clarkson credits her move to New York City for helping her get active. In an exclusive interview with People, she revealed that she's lost weight because she's now taking her wellness seriously and walking more.

She's never shared whether she has a gym routine but said “Walking in the city is quite the workout."

Clarkson chose to relocate her talk show to New York from Los Angeles in 2023. “I was very unhappy in L.A. and had been for several years. I needed a fresh start,” Clarkson told People. California, she said, wasn't good for her mental health.

Now that she's in New York, she's adopted a few other wellness trends too. "I’m really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold plunge because everybody wore me down," the "Piece By Piece" singer added.

As for her diet, Clarkson isn't doing anything extreme.

Kelly Clarkson opens up about how she's 'dropped weight' (1)

“I eat a healthy mix,” she told People. “I dropped weight because I’ve been listening to my doctor —a couple (of) years I didn’t. And 90% of the time I’m really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I’m a Texas girl, so I like meat —sorry, vegetarians in the world!"

“But I still splurge. The other night I had a frozen yogurt with my daughter, and it was magical," added the Grammy winner, who shares daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington, 7, with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

Clarkson has spoken before about her previous experience losing weight to address thyroid and autoimmune issues.

The singer and talk show host changed her diet to treat the issues and ended up losing about 37 pounds,she told TODAY’s Hoda Kotb in 2018.

“I know the industry loves the weight gone, but for me, it wasn’t really the weight,” Clarkson said at the time.

Back then, to lose the weight, Clarkson focused on a lectin-free diet, she told Extra. Lectins are the proteins that bind carbohydrates. They're pretty misunderstood, but some believe they're linked to obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis and autoimmune diseases, TODAY.com previously reported.

Clarkson read a book about lectins and cut them out of her diet which meant no legumes, beans, whole grains, dairy and certain veggies. "I literally read this book, and I did it for this autoimmune disease that I had and I had a thyroid issue, and now all my levels are back up," she said during the interview. "Literally, I haven’t worked out at all," she revealed.

Throughout her years in Hollywood, the "American Idol" star has had to deal with a lot of commentary about her size. She told Glamour UK in 2020 that being thin doesn't always give her more confidence, adding that she got her coaching role on "The Voice" after gaining some weight.

“I got on the No. 1 television show at my heaviest point, because it was right after I had kids, and it was like they didn’t care,” Clarkson said.

“Paul (Telegdy, chairman of NBC Entertainment) hired me from NBC because he loved my personality, he loved that I connect with people and I’m really raw and real. It had nothing to do with my sex appeal or my look aesthetically. It had to do with me as a person. I think it’s really up to artists to force people to have that mentality.”

Clarkson and TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager bonded over weight struggles when Jenna and her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" this past November.

During the conversation, Clarkson showed a photo of Jenna and Barbara dressed identically as kids.

“Those drop waist things were popular,” Jenna said of the dresses she and her sister were wearing in the pic. Clarkson interjected, “Which is not good for girls with curves later on.”

After Jenna remarked that she and Barbara “were chubby” as children, Barbara agreed: “Well, there was a stage."

Clarkson then gave Jenna a high-five, joking, “I’ve had many stages.”


Gina Vivinetto

Gina Vivinetto is a writer forTODAY.com.

Kelly Clarkson opens up about how she's 'dropped weight' (2024)

FAQs

Kelly Clarkson opens up about how she's 'dropped weight'? ›

In an interview with People published earlier this year, Clarkson said she had lost weight by following the advice of her doctor. "I eat a healthy mix," Clarkson said of her diet, which she also said focuses heavily on protein. "I dropped weight because I've been listening to my doctor -- a couple years I didn't."

How did Kelly Clarkson lose weight so quickly? ›

During an interview with “The View” host Whoopi Goldberg on Monday's “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Clarkson admitted to taking a weight loss drug to lose weight. In January, Clarkson told People magazine that diet and exercise helped her slim down. She made no mention of weight loss drugs.

What medication did Kelly Clarkson use to lose weight? ›

Clarkson, who gained over 60 pounds in a matter of months, initially claimed her diet was simple, but later revealed she was diagnosed with pre-diabetic. She admitted to taking injectable medication, Ozempic, to lose weight.

Did Kelly Clarkson use Ozempic for weight loss? ›

Kelly Clarkson addressed Ozempic rumors, revealing that a prescription medication helped her lose weight. “Everybody thinks it's Ozempic, but it's not. It's something else,” she said. She said her doctor recommended the drug after her “bloodwork got so bad.”

What diet is Kelly Clarkson on? ›

For Clarkson, her adherence to the Plant Paradox diet required her to eliminate a lot of processed and packaged foods. Eliminating processed foods can cut calories, reduce sugar intake, and help you shed unwanted pounds. That step alone could be a successful option for most people.

Did Oprah take Ozempic? ›

Last December, the former TV host revealed that she had been taking weight-loss medication, although she declined to name which one. At the time, she said that the prevalence of drugs like Ozempic “feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.”

How much did Kelly Clarkson weigh? ›

Clarkson said at her heaviest, she weighed 203 pounds. She said she is 5 feet, 3 1/2 half inches tall. She has reportedly lost 60 pounds. Goldberg said her moment was when she appeared in a movie last year and someone accused her of being in a fat suit.

How did Melissa McCarthy lose weight? ›

While talking with People in 2011, McCarthy recalled an all-liquid diet a doctor put her on in 2003 when she scored her role on “Gilmore Girls.” Describing how she'd consume only 500 calories a day, the actor said she ended up dropping 70 pounds in just four months.

Did Kelly Clarkson have surgery to lose weight? ›

Kelly Clarkson Says Weight Loss Is a Result of Prescription Medication: 'Everybody Thinks It's Ozempic — It's Not' Charna Flam is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on Variety, The New York Post, and The Wrap.

How did Adele lose weight? ›

She divided her workouts

Adele divided her workouts into several routines per day to achieve her weight loss goals. "I got quite addicted to it," she admitted to British Vogue in 2021. “So I do my weights in the morning, then I normally hike or I box in the afternoon, and then I go and do my cardio at night," she said.

What did Oprah use to lose weight? ›

Winfrey, who in December admitted to using weight loss medication, empathized with the guests who shared why they turned to prescription medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Victoza and Wegovy. "This is what I got for the first time after I took the medication.

What celebrity was on Ozempic? ›

Billie Jean King. During an April 2024 appearance on the “Wiser Than Me” podcast with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the 80-year-old tennis great shared that she started taking Ozempic because she hoped it would help manage her eating disorder. She's taken a few injections so far, she said. “I'm a binge eater.

Did Sheryl Underwood use Ozempic to lose weight? ›

"I think I did my job because a lot of people were not being truthful about it. 'I went to the gym. I just stopped eating carbs. ' OK, if that's the story you want to tell, that's cool," she commented regarding other celebrities who deny using injectables like Wegovy or Ozempic for weight loss.

What method did Kelly Clarkson use to lose weight? ›

Walking, eating a healthy mix of foods, and enjoying occasional treats are among some of the methods she's used to shed pounds.

Did Kelly have weight loss surgery? ›

Kelly Osbourne Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Emphasizing transparency, she stated, “All it does is change the shape of your stomach. I will never ever lie about it ever. It is the best thing I have ever done.” For Kelly, the impact went beyond just shedding pounds; the surgery played a pivotal role in her journey to sobriety.

How did Whoopi Goldberg lose weight? ›

Whoopi Goldberg is opening up about her experience using the type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro for weight loss. On May 13, the 68-year-old discussed the medication and its impact on her weight during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

How does Kelly stay so skinny? ›

She follows a simple diet rich in protein and veggies.

I occasionally will have fish. The alkaline diet is primarily a vegan diet, but I like cream in my coffee,” Ripa told People. Her personal nutritionist Daryl Gioffre also told People she splits the diet 80/20—80% of the food she eats is alkaline, 20 is not.

How did Oprah lose her weight? ›

Weight loss medication isn't the only tool in Oprah's kit: She's also an avid exerciser. During her weight loss special, she told viewers that she hikes three to five miles per day and also does "weight resistance training.” Back in 2017, she told The Hollywood Reporter that she hits her home gym soon after waking up.

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