Melissa Viviane Jefferson, professionally known as Lizzo, has formally acknowledged that she engaged in the short-term use of the prescription medication Ozempic as part of an effort to facilitate significant weight reduction.
The 37-year-old Grammy Award-winning recording artist, known for her chart-topping single Truth Hurts, addressed the matter during an appearance on the June 2025 episode of the Just Trish podcast, hosted by Trisha Paytas.
Ms. Jefferson disclosed that she commenced use of the GLP-1 receptor agonist at the outset of her weight management efforts in 2023. However, after a period of use, she determined that continued reliance on such pharmaceutical intervention would not be sustainable or beneficial for her long-term health objectives.
Ms. Jefferson stated: “I tried everything. Ozempic works because you consume less food, correct? So if you maintain a proper diet, it creates a feeling of fullness.”
She further elaborated: “But if one is capable of achieving that independently—through mental discipline—it yields the same result.”
In addressing the primary factor contributing to her weight loss success, Ms. Jefferson emphasized that the adjustment in her dietary habits was the predominant influence in achieving her physical transformation.
Ms. Melissa Viviane Jefferson, professionally known as Lizzo, disclosed that she adhered to a plant-based diet for an extended period, having exclusively consumed vegan food products between the years 2020 and 2023.
During her appearance on the Just Trish podcast, she stated: “What did it for me is, it was not being vegan,” further clarifying, “Because when I was vegan, I was consuming a lot of processed meat substitutes. I was eating a considerable amount of bread and rice, and I had to eat large quantities to achieve satiety. In reality, I was consuming between 3,000 to 5,000 calories per day.”
Ms. Jefferson also addressed the nutritional limitations of certain food items, noting that even small portions may contain artificial sweeteners or “fake sugar,” which may fail to provide adequate satiation.
She continued: “For me, when I began consuming whole foods—such as beef, chicken, and fish—I experienced a genuine sense of fullness without distending my stomach with highly processed items that ultimately lacked nutritional satisfaction.”
While Ms. Jefferson ultimately elected to discontinue use of Ozempic early in her weight loss process, she expressly stated that she does not perceive the use of such medication by others as tantamount to “cheating.” She emphasized: “It’s not easy. It’s a drug intended to assist individuals with challenges they are actively working to overcome.”
She concluded with a critique of societal attitudes, asserting: “I think people—when they accuse others of cheating—are often expressing fat-phobic sentiments.”#newsafro_
