Lizzo's weight loss journey has been a transformation, which she referred to as a 'weight release journey' in 2023. The 'Truth Hurts' singer, careful about her young fans, has always been vocal about improving her mental health, which was her ultimate goal.
Focus on Mental Health
'Once I started working out for mental health, to have balanced mental health or endorphins, so that I don't look at myself in the mirror and feel ashamed of myself, and feel disgusted with myself, exercise has helped me shift my mind, not my body,' she said in a May 2023 TikTok video, as reported by People. 'My body is gonna change, everyone's bodies change. That's life.'
The Beginning of the Journey
Lizzo (real name Melissa Jefferson) opened up about her weight loss journey on the podcast 'On Purpose with Jay Shetty' in April 2025. She credited her boyfriend, saying, 'My man, he's so funny. He was the one that brought it to my attention at first. Because at first I was like, "Oh my gosh I lost five pounds" and he was like, "Where did it go?"' She continued, 'I was mad at him, I was like, "Why would he say that?" but he was like, "Where did it go?"' Throughout her journey, her fans have been extremely supportive. In a post in late November 2024, the singer shared a series of selfies, and fans were quick to point out how well her new fitness routine has been working, as reported by Today.
The Ozempic Controversy
Speculations took over quickly when Lizzo shared glimpses of her weight loss progress on social media. Some followers raised questions about whether she was taking Ozempic to reduce her weight. According to Healthline, Ozempic is a medication used to improve blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes. It has been popular in Hollywood for weight loss. However, the singer pushed back against the controversies in 2024 by posting a clip of herself smiling for the camera, soundtracked by a popular TikTok audio of Christoph Waltz's character in 'Django Unchained' saying, 'It's like a reward,' as reported in People. In June 2025, Lizzo briefly admitted to using a small amount of Ozempic on the 'Just Trish' podcast. 'It's just the science, for me, calories in vs. calories out. Ozempic works because you eat less food. It makes you feel full. So, if you can just do that on your own and get mind-over-matter, it's the same,' she said.
Slow but Gradual Progress
In an interview with The New York Times, Lizzo mentioned that her dieting and workouts are bringing progress, but her approach has been anything but a quick fix. She described her 'methodical' journey, where she was 'losing weight quite slowly.' 'My body has been changing very slowly, but I don't think people were paying attention,' the singer said during her podcast interview with Shetty. 'I would show different things like my workouts or I'd show, like, what I eat in a day ... But I think we have to remember, everybody is not seeing yours all the time,' she said. Lizzo has always been supportive of body positivity, which has 'evolved into body neutrality.' 'I'm not going to lie and say I love my body every day,' the singer said.
Reaching Her Goal
Lizzo mentioned in a December 2023 TikTok post about incorporating Pilates into her workout routine to 'heal' her back. Everything she did helped her finally reach her goals in 2025, when the 'Good As Hell' singer shared two mirror selfies on Instagram, overlaid with screenshots from an app that showed she achieved her goal. 'I did it,' she wrote in the caption. 'Today when I stepped on my scale, I reached my weight release goal. I haven't seen this number since 2014! Let this be a reminder you can do anything you put your mind to. Time for new goals!'
