Chrissy Teigen says Ozempic pulled her out of deep depression, describes weight loss and hunger shifts
In a candid podcast conversation, the model explains how semaglutide helped lift her mood after a stillbirth, while detailing the appetite changes, dieting rules, and past eating struggles that accompanied the treatment.
Chrissy Teigen says Ozempic pulled her out of a deep depression after a stillbirth, recounting the experience on a recent episode of the Self-Conscious podcast. The model said she took semaglutide for about a year after the loss of her son Jack in 2020, noting that she initially saw no results for roughly three to four months before the pregnancy weight began to come off. She recalled that, after Ozempic use, she was no longer "in this deep depression of seeing this pregnant belly with no baby in it," and she described the weight loss as peeling away.
Teigen described Ozempic as a factor in lifting her mood and breaking dieting rigidity, but she emphasized the process was frustrating for someone who loves food. She said she wasn’t hungry for extended periods, which she found difficult because she enjoys eating. She joked that her husband, John Legend, makes her a late-night "sleep sandwich" around 2 a.m., a detail she shared in a lighthearted moment about her love of food. Not being hungry at all, she noted, is something she dislikes, even as the weight came off.
She said it took time to find the right balance because, at first, she would take the shot and then go through days of forcing herself to eat before the effect wore off and hunger returned. "Three days of forcing myself to eat food, then it would wear off a bit. Day four, day five, more food. Day six, the shot again," she recalled. She added that she felt bad about it because, in her view, it isn’t inherently wrong to be hungry, but the cycle was part of the adjustment to the medication. The experience, she said, helped her reconcile the time she spent on Ozempic.
Teigen said Ozempic helped release her from the "captivity" of strict dieting rules and allowed a shift in how she thought about food. She described the sense of release as a key part of her experience with the drug, which she found frustrating yet transformative given her prior relationship with dieting. She also acknowledged the shame she felt about being able to afford Ozempic and about not being completely truthful with fans who buy her cookbooks. The interview occurred during a discussion with Johann Hari, the author of "The Magic Pill."
During the conversation, Teigen opened up about earlier struggles with food. "As a model, I ate junk food and threw up," she revealed. She clarified that she did not consider it bulimia and described eating so much that she would become sick for four years. The candor about her past illustrates the complex relationship many have with food and body image, even as she spoke about the perceived benefits of the medication.
The cookbook author and mother of four did not specify when or why she stopped taking Ozempic. The topic of Ozempic has drawn public attention in recent years, as celebrities discuss their experiences with the drug, which is prescribed for type 2 diabetes and has been used off-label for weight loss. Teigen’s remarks add to the broader conversation about appetite, weight management, and the emotional dimensions that can accompany treatment.
Luna, 9, Miles, 7, Esti, 2, and Wren, 2, are her children, and in this discussion she touched on the pressures and experiences that come with public-facing life and parenthood. The conversation also touched on broader questions about body image and health, particularly for individuals in the public eye who navigate intense scrutiny over appearance.
If you or someone you know is affected by eating disorders or related issues, visit the National Eating Disorders Association website for support and resources.