James Corden’s Weight Loss: Ozempic ‘Didn’t Help,’ but Here’s What Did
The British comedian doesn't believe in following a strict diet
While GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are all the buzz in Hollywood, they’re not always the best choice to shed unwanted pounds. Case in point: James Corden lost weight naturally without the use of medication, but this wasn’t for lack of trying. The British comedian has been open about his experience trying to use Ozempic to enhance his health, but ultimately not seeing results. Here’s what we know about James Corden’s weight loss journey and why shifting his mindset around food was key.
James Corden says Ozempic didn’t help him lose weight
During a September 2024 episode of his This Life of Mine podcast, the actor, 46, said Ozempic ultimately didn’t help tame his appetite.
“I tried Ozempic, and it won’t be surprising to you when you look at me now, that it didn’t really work,” Corden said, per People. “I tried it for a bit, and then what I realized was I was like, ‘Oh no, nothing about my eating has anything to do with being hungry.’ All this does is make you feel not hungry. But I am very rarely eating [just because of hunger].”
“You are looking at someone who’s eaten a king size, and when I say king size [Cadbury] Dairy Milk—one you give someone for Christmas—in a carwash,” the former The Late Late Show host continued. “None of that was like, ‘Oh, I’m so hungry’. It is not that, it’s something else.”
Corden went on to say he “really resonates” with his guest on the episode, Richard Osman, who has discussed an “absolutely ever-present” food addiction that has been the “drum beat” of his life.
Why Ozempic doesn’t work for everyone
Ozempic is FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes treatment. It contains the active ingredient semaglutide, which mimics a hormone called GLP-1 in the body. GLP-1 assists with appetite control and is meant to help you feel fuller longer and significantly decrease calorie consumption.
But as Corden found out, it doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, about 14 percent of people are non-responders to the drug, according to research in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
While researchers aren’t yet certain why some people have great success with weight loss after using the injectable and others don’t, doctors believe potential reasons may include incorrect dosages, inadequate hydration, lack of physical activity, additional medications interfering or, as evidenced by Corden, unchanged eating habits.
The key to James Corden’s weight loss success
So, how did James Corden lose weight despite not seeing success with Ozempic? Here’s what worked for him.
He joined WW
In 2021, Corden partnered with WW, formerly WeightWatchers as a spokesperson.
“I want to change the way that I live,” Corden said when he announced his collaboration with the company. “I want to be better for my children and for my family. I don’t want to wake up tired, or feel embarrassed when I’m chasing my son on the soccer field and [I’m] out of breath after three minutes. The weight is not the issue, it’s the wellness of it I am ready to tackle. I’m going to take this year and work towards getting healthy.”
And after following the WW program, Corden told People, “I am down 28 pounds since the start of the year, and for the first time, the weight I’ve lost hasn’t come back. It’s game-changing and I feel incredible.”
He didn’t follow a strict dict
“What’s working for me is realizing this isn’t a temporary solution, this is a new way of life,” said Corden. He also quipped: “I love that my clothes fit better, but I just love ice cream a little bit more than that.”
People also reported that Corden shared a similar sentiment during a BBC Radio show in May of 2021, telling host Zoe Ball that he had “done every single diet in the world,” and had come to the conclusion that “the notion of going on a diet is wrong.”
“You’re not going on a diet,” he said. “You’re gonna change the way you eat. And you’re gonna change the way you eat forever. Just see this as: This is how you eat now.”
While speaking to The Sun in 2022, Corden said he felt strict dieting is not conducive to long-term improvements. He even compared it to Dry January, noting that most people who cut alcohol at the start of the year end up reverting back to the habit the following month.
“You don’t have to cut anything out,” he told the outlet about WW. “It’s just being aware of what you are putting in your body, trying not to eat things that have too many ingredients.”
“You don’t beat yourself up if you have a bad week—you just don’t revert back to eating Quavers at midnight,” he added.
He tried intermittent fasting
The Carpool Karaoke alum also told The Sun he had introduced intermittent fasting to his routine.
“I don’t eat until 12,” he said, adding that he spends his mornings boxing with a personal trainer before having his first meal of the day.
Intermittent fasting can be an effective means to achieve weight loss because it doesn’t require significant cut backs on any macronutrient or calories, explains Trista Best, RD at Balance One Supplements.
“It is important to remember your eating window should still include balanced meals,” she notes. “If you are several months into intermittent fasting and are hitting a plateau, you may want to consider increasing your number of fasting hours on at least one day a week.”
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