Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing to some readers.
Lizzo has shared insights into her weight loss and mental health journey, revealing during an interview that there was a point when she felt “tired of living.”
The singer of ‘About Damn Time’ has drawn attention recently with her weight loss, leading some social media users to speculate that she might have used Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes medication that some utilize for weight loss.
In response to the ongoing speculation, Lizzo clarified last month through a post, indicating she did not use Ozempic but instead worked hard to achieve her results.
She explained her transformation as resulting from various efforts, including “training 3x a week, daily sauna & cardio, adding animal protein back into my diet, hiring a chef who helps me meal prep and keeps track of what I put into my body in a calorie deficit.”
In an interview with Women’s Health, Lizzo delved deeper into her health journey, describing her mental health challenges following a 2023 lawsuit by three former backup dancers alleging sexual harassment and weight shaming.
The musician has denied these allegations, although the lawsuit remains active, with her company, Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc., also named as a defendant.
Lizzo recounted feeling increasingly “paranoid and isolated” as she faced cancel culture.
“I pushed everyone away. I wasn’t even talking to my therapist. I wasn’t present. I wasn’t open. I wasn’t myself anymore,” she explained. “It got to the point where it’s just like, well… You ever get tired of living?
“It got to the point where I was like, ‘I could die.’ I never attempted to kill myself or thought about it, but I did think, If everyone hates you and thinks you’re a terrible person, then what’s the point?”
Her mindset began to shift after attending Beyoncé’s ‘Renaissance’ tour, where she unexpectedly encountered support from others.
“It made me feel like, wow, maybe I don’t want to die,” she remarked. “Life is worth living. That was the kick-starter to me being like, ‘Okay, Melissa, get your ass in gear and take your f*cking life back.'”
This newfound motivation, along with severe back pain that affected her daily life, led Lizzo to establish a weight loss goal, which she has now exceeded.
She collaborated with trainer Marvin Telp to develop a routine and adjusted her diet to include more protein and vegetables, while allowing for occasional indulgences.
“There’s a balance,” she noted regarding her diet, adding: “I think that’s what true health is.”
Confronting the Ozempic rumors directly, Lizzo asserted that she isn’t using the medication, but does not criticize those who do.
“If I did all of this on Ozempic, if I did all this with surgery, I would be just as proud of myself, because this s**t is hard,” she expressed. “Everyone who’s ever been in a bigger body knows that this s**t ain’t easy. Existing isn’t easy.”
Reflecting on her journey, she added: “I’m proud of the person I’ve become. I feel like I’ve turned everything I’ve been through into growth.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support immediately, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.