The body positivity movement started a much-needed conversation on the importance of self-love and acceptance. At the same time, weight loss is still on Americans' minds. “We are all fish swimming in the sea of diet culture, and I think that is part of what makes weight loss and body acceptance so complicated,” says Kayli Anderson, RDN, a plant-based dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor, who is based in Salida, Colorado. Anderson is also a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and of Everyday Health’s Health Expert Network.
In a recent survey by Everyday Health, which queried more than 3,000 people who attempted to lose weight in the preceding six months, respondents reported increased feelings of guilt and shame during their weight loss journey. What's more, their preoccupation with weight and body image increased.
RELATED: Everyday Health's Survey and Special Report: Weight Loss Reframed
Despite those challenges, many people want to lose weight. According to a Gallup poll published in January 2022, about 55 percent of Americans would like to lose weight. A past report, published in July 2018 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even found that about 49 percent of U.S. adults tried to lose weight over a 12-month period. And lest we forget Ozempic, which has seen such a high demand in recent months it’s even led to counterfeits, as Reuters reports.
Among those who are overweight or have obesity, even modest weight loss can be beneficial for health, decreasing the risk of chronic diseases, according to the CDC. “Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, cancer, and numerous other medical problems — losing weight to mitigate these consequences should be the focus rather than a number on the scale or meeting certain societal beauty standards,” says Baltimore-based Zoobia Chaudhry, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, with clinical expertise in obesity medicine.
Weight loss, however, can of course be challenging — and the likelihood of weight regain is high (not to mention everyone’s journey is different). One review noted that a meta-analysis of 29 weight loss studies found that more than half of people’s weight loss was regained within two years (and after five years, more than 80 percent of the weight loss was regained).“The body tends to adapt to changes after weight loss, leading to plateaus in weight loss and weight regain in most individuals,” says Chaudhry. “Understanding and managing these adaptations is crucial for sustained progress,” she adds. Another study further explains that “metabolic adaptation” is often the reason why weight loss isn’t always linear.
An additional hurdle for people attempting weight loss? That diet culture. “Diet culture includes things like airbrushed images in advertisements, social media influencers promoting supplements and fad diets, and a society that promotes an ideal body shape and size,” says Anderson. “This leads us to focus on appearance and numbers instead of on a healthy lifestyle, but the reality is that healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes,” Anderson adds.
While we have little control over the genetics that determine the size and shape of our bodies, our energy is better spent focusing on healthy behaviors, like eating nourishing foods, moving our bodies daily, and finding healthy ways to manage stress, Anderson explains. “By focusing on these things, you gain a lot more than a specific clothing size and you avoid the trap of trying to fit into the mold that society has defined as ‘ideal,’” says Anderson.
Needless to say, health journeys — including ones aimed at weight loss — are complicated, with various factors at play. Here, discover 11 authentic quotes from celebrities about weight loss, including the struggles as well as what worked, and what they gained from their experience.
Adele
When Adele was in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to focus on exercise as a way to help improve her mental health (the CDC notes that exercise promotes brain health, helping to potentially reduce anxiety or depression). “It was because of my anxiety. Working out, I would just feel better. It was never about losing weight, it was always about becoming strong and giving myself as much time every day without my phone,” the Grammy award–winning artist told British Vogue in November 2021. Over two years, Adele went on to lose 100 pounds, she told the publication.
Focusing on what benefits you’ll get from exercising — like better mental health — over what you’ll lose is a key way to improve your health, says Anderson. “When I first begin working with a client, I have them write a vision statement for their desired future: How will they feel after achieving their goals, what will be different about their daily life, and what will they gain?” says Anderson. “Having a vivid destination helps make the steps to get to that destination clearer and more compelling,” she adds.
Also, Chaudhry recommends asking yourself “what does health mean for me?” and then working with your doctor to achieve those goals. “For most people it means life free from diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, sleeping better, being able to manage stress better, no back pain, ability to climb stairs, and keeping up with their kids to name a few,” says Chaudhry.
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and Bridgerton, told Extra in October 2015 that her weight loss motivation was not to achieve some number on the scale — but instead about being there for her family. "I just decided I was going to get it together and get healthy. I have some little kids, and I want to be around them," Rhimes said, referring to her 117-pound weight loss.
Focusing on something like family for your goal in weight loss is what Anderson calls an “intrinsic motivator,” rather than an “extrinsic motivator” (which is following diet rules or a number on the scale). “It's much wiser to rely on intrinsic motivators, or internal factors like experiences of joy and inherent benefits like better sleep or more energy,” says Anderson.
Still, Rhimes’ journey hasn’t been without challenges. Rhimes spoke honestly that she didn’t enjoy the weight loss process, and that this realization actually helped her. “Once I decided it wasn’t going to be fun, I lowered my expectations, and it got kind of easier,” she told Extra. She also opened up in September 2017, when she shared in her Shondaland newsletter about her disheartening realization that people treated her much differently after losing weight. “When I was fat, I wasn’t a person to these people. Like I had been an invisible woman who suddenly materialized in front of them. Poof! There I am. Thin and ready for a chat,” she said, a testament to society's obsession with diet culture and extrinsic factors like thinness.
America Ferrera
America Ferrera, the Emmy award–winning actor who starred in the blockbuster film Barbie, has developed a deep love of exercise, and how it’s helped her reach her health goals in a positive and not punishing way. Weight loss has been a byproduct of that. "I love moving my body. I try [to work out] once a day," Ferrera told People in October 2022. "I think my relationship to moving my body and working out has really evolved, and I'm in a place where I just want to enjoy it. I want to have fun, I want to move because I can, because it feels good, and because it always makes my day better after I've done that," Ferrera added. The Superstore alum has lost about 30 pounds in recent years, according to Life & Style.
One study suggests that healthcare professionals should promote the goal of regular exercise rather than weight loss as a path toward better health, which may help people realize that healthy bodies can come in all shapes and sizes.
Anderson also says it’s important to focus on how movement makes your body feel in a weight loss journey. “Spend time with your body — moving it in ways that feel good like dancing or walking in nature, or simply sitting with your body and breathing,” she says. Ferrera loves dancing, like Zumba, and touts its approachability. "It's not about being the best, it's not about being a professional dancer or someone who works out every single day — anyone can do it," Ferrera told People.
Demi Lovato
The Grammy award–winning artist Demi Lovato has bipolar disorder and has struggled with an eating disorder in the past, according to Women’s Health. She has found self-compassion, though, in her health journey. In March 2021 she wrote on Instagram that she “accidentally lost weight” when she stopped focusing on restrictions. “I don’t count calories anymore I don’t over exercise anymore I don’t restrict or purge And I especially I don’t live my life according to the diet culture ... and I’ve actually lost weight,” she wrote.
Lovato shifted from a self-punishing to a self-respecting mindset, which is often challenging to accomplish. “The journey back to self-respect or self-love is not always easy, so I recommend enlisting a mental health professional to support this work,” says Anderson.
Meghan Trainor
Singer Meghan Trainor is all about body positivity, but after a C-section and the birth of her son, she didn’t feel like herself and it was affecting her both mentally and physically, she told Entertainment Tonight Canada in November 2022 (as reported by People). The singer, famous for hits like “All About That Bass” and "Lips Are Movin,” decided to focus on her health, so she could be in a “great place” for her son, she said — and ended up losing 60 pounds, People reported.
Trainor made healthy life changes, and saw slow-and-steady results. "I challenged myself. I was like, 'If I can survive a C-section, I can do anything!' — [and] I was very dedicated, and I started seeing the pounds come off like one week at a time, one pound… I learned that I do like healthy food and I learned what portions mean. And I learned my brain is so happy when I exercise, so I'm just [feeling] better than ever."
Taking this slow-and-steady weight loss approach is crucial, says Anderson. “Quick weight loss might be appealing, but most of the weight lost will be water or muscle mass, which is not what you want!” says Anderson. “Slow progress also gives you time to cement lifelong healthy habits into your daily life,” Anderson adds. Also, the CDC notes that people who experience gradual, steady weight loss — losing around one or two pounds a week like Trainor did — are often better able to keep weight off than those who lose weight quickly.
Gabourey Sidibe
Once she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, actor Gabourey Sidibe decided to undergo bariatric surgery, and shift her outlook on how she viewed her body. “I think I saw my body as being outside of myself; it was like an enemy, beside me not in me. And now I’ve won. I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time being mad at it. Because if I’d started treating it better sooner, I wouldn’t have spent so many years hating myself, I wouldn’t have allowed that negative energy to be around me. Life is really, truly all about choices and decisions. I wish I’d made the choice to love my body sooner. But I finally have,” Sidibe told People in March 2017.
If you too are feeling like your body is your enemy, Anderson recommends a practice in gratitude. “Write down one gratitude for the functionality of your body every day — something that has nothing to do with how your body looks,” says Anderson. Also, getting lost in social media’s diet culture vortex can be harmful, so Anderson advises people to update their accounts. “Prune your social media feed — unfollow or hide accounts that trigger negative feelings about your own body” Anderson says.
Ree Drummond
The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond lost 50 pounds — and has kept off the weight for three years, according to People. She opened up that her success isn’t about living a life of limitations. “I think what I’ve done over the past two years is knowing that I don’t want to push things away or say no to foods. I upped my movement a bit. I take a couple extra walks with the dogs each week. I make sure to get on the rowing machine at least once a day, especially through November and December,” she told People in October 2023.
Doing things like enjoying your favorite foods on your weight loss journey is a good idea, says Anderson. “This might surprise people, but my best piece of advice is to let your satisfaction be your guide — this comes from my training in intuitive eating,” says Anderson. “Satisfaction includes things like pleasure and enjoyment — these things usually get left out of the equation when it comes to dieting and weight loss, but they are so important,” Anderson adds.
Jonathan Van Ness
In August 2022 the Queer Eye co-host announced he hired a nutritionist and lost 35 pounds on TikTok, and his desire to lose weight went beyond just appearance. "Here's the thing, I wanted to change my body size because of my gymnastics and my career. My body was hurting, my back was hurting, I was hot as f***. I got a nutritionist because I wanted to do more gymnastics. I wanted to do more stuff, I wanted to feel better," said Van Ness.
In addition to his focus on intrinsic factors for weight loss — like less back pain and more gymnastics — which Anderson supports, he advocated for a slow-and-steady approach. “It took three weeks before I saw any change," he continued, explaining he made changes to his diet and exercise regimen in that time.
While it may be frustrating not to see results immediately, there are long-term payoffs to this strategy. “By taking things slowly, your new health behaviors have time to become second nature; it also gives you time to notice other benefits from the changes you've made, like better sleep, improved mood, and more energy,” says Anderson. On top of that, a slow weight loss approach can lead to greater fat loss rather than lean tissue loss (important for Van Ness’ gymnastics) one study suggests.
Drew Barrymore
Actor Drew Barrymore credits her trainer Marnie Alton with helping her lose 20 pounds — and find herself — according to Woman’s Health. “We all love to run to her for her spirit and leadership for all things healthy. We hope the people in the wellness world are actually healthy in their hearts and minds. It’s not all about being terminators! It’s about how to find yourself. How to be your best self,” wrote Barrymore on Instagram in February 2020.
Anderson also says that finding love for yourself is essential in the weight loss process. “Self-love is the first step to any health journey; the term "self-love" can feel daunting, so I prefer self-appreciation or self-respect,” says Anderson. “When you start from a place of self-respect, crash diets and other harmful practices are easier to reject,” says Anderson. “Instead, you can focus on getting to know your unique body — your hunger and fullness cues, your preferences when it comes to food and movement,” she adds.
Melissa McCarthy
Over the years, actor Melissa McCarthy has lost 75 pounds, according to a story featured in Parade in May 2023. McCarthy talked about weight loss to Rolling Stone back in February 2017, and revealed how she was conditioned to see her body in a negative light from an early age.
“I thought I battled weight throughout high school, but I look back at pictures of me as a cheerleader, doing sprints, lifting weights, doing gymnastics, playing tennis, and while I wasn’t reed-thin like some girls — we’re so f***** up in this country that somehow equates that with better — I was a size 6 the entire time. So what on Earth was I freaking out about?”
Unfortunately, McCarthy’s experience reveals that society’s focus on an “ideal” body type (as Anderson describes) can negatively affect our body image at a young age. Thus, it can make us lose sight of all of the amazing things the body can do (like in McCarthy’s case, running sprints, playing tennis, and lifting weights).
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Anderson, The Golden Globe nominee and star of Black-ish, completely changed his lifestyle after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. In January 2023, Anderson appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show, saying that because he has diabetes, he is more likely than the average person to have a stroke, cardiovascular disease, or heart attack — and Anderson lost his father to cardiovascular disease. Because of that, Anderson was motivated to make changes, saying in that interview, “I started with my diet. Al Roker is a good friend of mine, and he recommended his nutritionist to me. She helped me cut out unnecessary carbs and gave me an action plan to eat healthier and cleaner,” he said. He then went on to add exercise to his routine. “It made a huge difference. I lost a bunch of weight. So much that I had to get a whole new wardrobe. I felt so much better, and the eating healthy and being active got easier over time. It all just became routine.”
Anderson’s mindset might have also made the lifestyle changes easier. “By treating your body as a precious, finite resource, you naturally gravitate toward healthy lifestyle practices,” says Kayli Anderson.
Anderson also takes medications for his diabetes. He spoke to People in February 2023 about Ozempic, and the Hollywood trend to use it to shed a few pounds. Around that time, experts speculated that off-label use of the drug for weight loss had been driving a shortage of the drug, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating type 2 diabetes. "I will say this, it's creating a shortage for those of us who need the medicine that we need and not for weight loss issues, but for our health," said Anderson (who is a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk's Get Real About Diabetes campaign.
Everyday Health's Weight Loss Reframed Survey queried 3,144 Americans nationwide ages 18 and older who had tried losing weight in the previous six months. The study was fielded between July 10 and August 18, 2023, across demographic groups, genders, and health conditions. Survey recruitment took place via an online portal, in app, and via email. The margin of error for the sample size of 3,144 is +/-1.7 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Roxana Ehsani, RD
Medical Reviewer
Roxana Ehsani, RD, is a Miami-based licensed dietitian-nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and media spokesperson, consultant, and content creator for food and nutrition brands. She is an adjunct instructor for sports nutrition at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.
Ehsani appears as a food and nutrition expert for television stations across the nation and in national publications, including Runner's World, Women's Health, Glamour, and more, and is a contributing writer for EatingWell. She has a strong background in sports nutrition and has worked with professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school teams and individual athletes, whom she sees through her private practice.
