Everything Kelly Clarkson Has Said About Her Weight Loss (& How Ozempic Wasn't Involved)

Kelly Clarkson has been a music superstar since winning the inaugural season of "American Idol" back in 2002. The Grammy Award-winning singer is now a mother of two and has hosted her own daytime talk show since 2019. On "The Kelly Clarkson Show," she has approached conversations about universal topics often by going into detail about her own experiences. This includes discussions about a subject that has followed Clarkson throughout her career, despite her best efforts to remain tight lipped about it: her weight. 

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In 2024, Clarkson took the opportunity to share a candid confession about how she lost nearly 60 pounds. She shared that she'd taken a weight-loss drug at her doctor's recommendation. While she did not name the medication, she did confirm that it was not Ozempic. "My doctor chased me for like two years and I was like, 'No I'm afraid of it, I already have thyroid problems,'" she said on "The Kelly Clarkson Show." But Clarkson had a change of heart after watching a video of herself in concert after reaching over 200 pounds. This convinced her to try a GLP-1, and the results speak for themselves as Clarkson has kicked her style up a notch after the weight loss. While this was the most transparent she has been about her weight-loss journey, this wasn't the first time Clarkson had spoken about her health and size.  

Kelly Clarkson has had quite the face transformation since her "American Idol" days, and the same can be said for her body as well. Back in 2018, Clarkson revealed on "Today" that she dropped nearly 40 pounds as a result of changing her diet. She explained that she had been dealing with a thyroid issue for many years that can affect metabolism and contribute to weight fluctuations. Switching up her eating habits to get her health issues under control resulted in Clarkson losing weight. She also revealed that she didn't need to take her thyroid medication anymore, which also contributed to her shrinking waistline.

Her approach to food has evolved over the years. During a 2024 story with People, Clarkson said that when it comes to food, "I eat a healthy mix. 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." But she doesn't limit herself when it comes to enjoying the food she loves, saying, "I still splurge. The other night I had a frozen yogurt with my daughter, and it was magical." 

Kelly Clarkson is a celeb who looks totally different after using weight-loss medication — and she won't stop others from acknowledging it too. Clarkson made this clear during a 2025 concert when she revealed that someone from her talk show advised her against celebrating weight loss, as it could make viewers feel self-conscious. Clarkson denounced that sentiment, saying on stage, "Some of those b****s are out here working, and we're trying, and I want [everyone] that passes me to go, 'Damn. Well done'" (via TikTok).

Clarkson maintained a healthy self image even prior to her weight-loss journey. She told Redbook in 2017, "No one actually cares about your health. They just care about aesthetics. It's when I'm fat that I'm happy." She went on to say that people often assumed that any weight she had gained was a result of dissatisfaction within her life, when in fact the opposite was true. In addition to speaking candidly about the pressure to be thin while in the public eye, Clarkson has also talked about the judgement she received for her appearance growing up. She shared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in 2022 that it forced her to accept herself early on. "I was just like, 'Whatever, I'm not gonna please anyone,'" she recalled.