Discover all the details about the diabetes-approved medication that Jelly Roll has credited for his significant weight loss of 300 pounds.
The 41-year-old musician, who tipped the scales at over 500 pounds in December 2024, has since shed 275 pounds, gracing the cover of Men’s Health by January 2026.
Jason DeFord, known by his stage name Jelly Roll, has openly discussed his weight-loss journey, reflecting on the impact obesity has had on his life.
“I’m loving my body,” he shared with the publication. “This is a whole new thing for me, y’all, I’ve been imprisoned to a fat suit for 30-something years.
“You know, I was thinking, when I was 500-something pounds and walking a 40-minute mile, probably, I was screaming [that] I was going to be on the cover Men’s Health. And, even to me, as wild as I think, and big of a dreamer as I am, that was pretty ambitious.”
Jelly Roll achieved his weight loss through traditional methods like regular exercise and a balanced diet, but he also found success with the drug Metformin.
The NHS states that metformin is prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, and it can be used for those at high risk of developing the condition.
This medication lowers blood sugar levels by improving the body’s insulin handling.
It is important to note that metformin is not approved specifically for weight loss.
Research on metformin continues, with scientists exploring its potential to reduce cancer risk for individuals with type-2 diabetes.
While many people may not experience symptoms from the drug, some side effects include nausea, diarrhea, stomach ache, and occasionally loss of appetite.
Unlike many other diabetes medications, metformin does not cause weight gain.
It’s recommended to take metformin with a meal to minimize potential side effects.
In an interview with Men’s Health, the musician explained that his insulin levels were ‘super high’, which led him to start the medication.
Danese Raxroad, a nurse practitioner who worked with DeFord, explained to Men’s Health: “Insulin is designed to help glucose enter the cell. When you have an excessive amount of insulin, it forces your body to store fat.
“So switching those receptors and switching what Jelly’s body was signaling with insulin helped him rapidly adjust his insulin resistance. I wasn’t doing a big science experiment. It was just meal timing and eating real foods.”