Famous Stars Who Had Gastric Surgery & Lost Weight

Living the life of the rich and famous has many wonderful perks. But is too much of a good thing still good? These celebrities have all experienced the difficulties of carrying more weight than they can handle, but they made a decision that changed their lives. These celebrities underwent gastric surgery or other weight-loss makeovers, and take a look at them now!

Rosie O’Donnell

Before she decided to turn her life around, Rosie O’Donnell suffered a heart attack when she weighed 240 pounds. In July 2013 she underwent gastric sleeve surgery and her weight dropped to 175 pounds as a result, and she looks much healthier.

Alec Baldwin

It’s easy to get caught up in unhealthy eating habits, and Alec Baldwin can attest to that. When he received his diagnosis as a pre-diabetic he immediately cut sugar out of his eating. He implemented a consistent exercise regimen and now he’s a lot happier after having lost 60 pounds and balanced his blood sugar levels.

Mariah Carey

Everyone knows that it’s a challenge to lose post-pregnancy weight, and singer Mariah Carey is no different. After giving birth to her twins in 2011, she took it upon herself to follow a strict diet plan and lose weight. She managed to shed 45 pounds, and the results are beautiful!

Ronnie Ortiz

Most remember Jersey Shore star, Ronnie Ortiz as a strong and muscular guy, but after the show that changed. Due to kidney stones, he gained weight but made a pact with himself to get back into shape. After following his strict diet and workout plan, he has achieved his goal, and we can all see it.

Tom Arnold

Tom Arnold was always a larger man, and nobody ever imagined that it would change. After his son was born, he decided that it was time to get himself into shape and shed those pounds. It wasn’t easy, but with full determination and a lot of sweat and tears, Arnold lost more than 100 pounds!

Star Jones

By the time 2003 came around, Star Jones was severely obese and her weight passed the 300-pound mark. The only option she deemed helpful for her situation was gastric sleeve surgery which she then followed with a gastric bypass surgery. Both operations were successes and she managed to lose around 160 pounds.

Chaz Bono

For anyone who doesn’t know, Chaz Bono is Cher’s child. This star didn’t undergo any gastric surgery, but she did have plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and then gender-reassignment surgery. When he took to the floor of Dancing with the Stars he managed to lose 85 pounds and started leading a healthier lifestyle.

Gabourey Sidibe

This is star is definitely tied to her impressive role in the movie, Precious. Unfortunately she was also noted for being extremely overweight, and then she learned that she had Type 2 diabetes. After getting a doctor’s recommendation for gastric sleeve surgery, and she went for it. Since then she has lost more than 50 pounds and she isn’t done yet.

Mama June

For over ten years, Mama June suffered with obesity, but everything changed when she became a grandmother. June went with the option of gastric sleeve surgery and followed a strict diet. She dropped 150 pounds and she still continues to maintain a balanced diet and a healthy weight.

Austin “Chumlee” Russell

We all know this Pawn Stars figure, and we all know, or at least knew, his massive weight which was over 300 pounds. His decision to become healthier came from general health concerns which stemmed from diagnosis as a pre-diabetic. Since he took the leap to eat healthy and to exercise regularly, he has lost 75 pounds.

Jennifer Hudson

Hudson didn’t need to win American Idol in order to win all of our hearts, that’s for sure. She wasn’t ever severely overweight, but she was a little bit bigger than she wanted to be. The only problem was that she didn’t like the idea of exercising, until she saw the results. She has lost more than 80 pounds since changing her lifestyle.

Paul Wall

This rapper doesn’t like doing anything without going the whole way, and we noticed this when he was overweight at 320 pounds. In 2010 he underwent gastric sleeve surgery and managed to lose 100 pounds. He notes his wife as a major support in his life, and he even mentioned that she encouraged him to lose another 30 pounds after the gastric surgery.

Carrie Fisher

It’s hard to believe that the slim Princess Leia could form a drug addiction and fight weight issues. She kicked her weight loss program into gear when she was offered to appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Fisher managed to lose 40 pounds for the role.

Chris Pratt

Pratt was first just the chubby Andy on Parks and Recreation, but then he made his way onto the set of Guardians of the Galaxy. He motivated himself to follow a workout routine that included a diet plan that helped him lose 60 pounds in just six months.

Jordin Sparks

When she won American Idol, Sparks was only 17 years old but a little heavier than she wanted to be. With her career progressing, she decided to get herself into healthy shape by following a diet plan and a dynamic exercise regimen that caused her to lose more than 50 pounds!

Seth Rogen

We’ve all noted Seth Rogen as the chubby guy who makes us all laugh. But when he was offered a role in Green Hornet, he realized that he would have to get some muscles and lose weight. Rogen’s workout plan and special diet played its part and he shed 30 pounds before playing the suerhero part.

Christina Aguilera

She had the voice of pop in the 90’s, but after she got pregnant Aguilera found it difficult to shed the excess weight. In August 2014 she weighed around 200 pounds and she wasn’t happy about it. Like others on this list, Christina managed to lose 49 pounds through eating healthy and exercising regularly.

Jerry Ferrera

Entourage star, Jerry Ferrera, was quite overweight at 200 pounds and his doctor explained that he needed to make a life change. Luckily for him he didn’t need to undergo gastric surgery; he did it the natural way. 40 pounds less and look how good he looks!

Oprah Winfrey

Even someone as iconic and successful as Oprah Winfrey faces the difficulties of losing weight. In 1999 she weighed a massive 237 pounds, but she managed to it under control. Following strict diet plans and workout routines brought this TV show host down 160 pounds!

Ruben Studdard

He was the winner of the second season of American Idol, if you forgot. He decided to restart his life after being diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes. Since, Studdard has been exercising regularly, eating healthy and losing pounds… 119 pounds to be exact.

Jonah Hill

While acting alongside Brad Pitt in Moneyball, Jonah Hill got some life changing and life saving tips from the senior actor. Hill incorporated Pitt’s advice and started working out regularly and he held back his temptation to eat unhealthy foods.

Kelly Osbourne

For Ozzy and Sharon’s daughter, losing weight wasn’t just about looking better. In fact it was because she had suffered from a seizure, and she needed to get her life on track. She took on the help of a personal trainer who instructed her and guided and her. You can see the results as she’s 50 pounds lighter.

Perez Hilton

Blogger and tabloid star, Perez Hilton felt that he needed to lose weight. In 2008 his decision was followed with the help of a personal trainer who helped him lose 70 pounds.

Janet Jackson

It’s par for the course to get criticism when you’re as famous as Janet Jackson. So when this talented artist gained some extra weight, it didn’t take long for people to start talking about it. But she wanted to get herself back into shape for herself, and she did with regular exercise and healthy eating.

Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi

Jersey Shore party girl, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, gave birth in 2012 and she wanted to lose the baby weight. Snooki got a personal trainer to help her, and the result was losing 42 pounds. Take a look at her now.

50 Cent

How many pounds would suit 50 Cent to lose for his role in Things Fall Apart? You probably guessed it – 50 pounds. The results were actually quite shocking, and many people came to criticize the rapper. We have to admit that he did look the part of a cancer-stricken football player. 50 Cent explained that he basically just starved himself.

Dr. Dre

Here’s another rapper who dropped some beats and shed some pounds. Dre didn’t suffer with obesity or severe overweight issues, but he did kick himself into health gear. At 53 years old he ois looking better than some 25-year-olds wished they looked like.

Kevin Liles

When Kevin Liles actually started to worry about his life, he knew he needed to do something drastic. The former Def Jam Records president underwent a gastric sleeve surgery and it has only done him wonders. Following the procedure he has vowed to maintain a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine.

Abby Lee Miller

Dance Moms’ star Abby Lee Miller realized that she needed to lose weight. After looking into the various options, she decided on gastric sleeve surgery and it made its impact. Miller dropped from a size 24 to a size 16.

Aretha Franklin

Sometimes it takes a shock to commit to doing something. Aretha Franklin got the news that she had diabetes, so she made it a point to lose weight and get healthy. She went the natural route and lost nearly 100 pounds.

Adam Richman

Adam Richman suffered from depression and landing up leaving his show. He made a decision to get his life on the right track and started to look into healthy-eating options. He first went to veganism and then took on exercise, which together helped him drop more than 70 pounds.

Queen Latifah

She was suffering from bad back problems, so she got breast reduction surgery. But her main weight loss came from working out with a personal trainer and by following a strict diet.

Raven-Symoné

She wasn’t just a child star, Raven-Symoné was also a victim of bullying for her weight. She didn’t have to take to gastric surgery to lose weight, just some healthy eating habits and a regular exercise routine.

Kirstie Alley

Many people may not know, but Kirstie Alley struggled with weight loss for quite some time. But her determination and hard work eventually paid off, and she celebrated her new self. Alley didn’t have to pursue any types of surgery to get to where she is now.

Drew Carey

Some might not know this, but Drew Carey was actually a marine once upon a time. So after he was diagnosed with diabetes, and after he went through with heart surgery, he decided to get healthy again. Look at what a transformation he made.

Wendy Williams

Did Wendy Williams ever need to lose weight? Well whatever the answer to that might be, she believed she did, and she even managed to lose 50 pounds! How did she do it? No gastric surgery, that’s for sure. Just eating well and exercising hard.

Chaka Kan

Perhaps it was because she was so busy collecting Grammy Awards, that Chaka Kan let her weight get out of control. This star managed to lose more than 60 pounds by exercising and following her vegan diet.

Al Roker

Al Roker needed to get his gut in shape as it was becoming a health hazard for him. after many consultations with professionals, he went for a gastric sleeve surgery. Following the procedure he has committed himself to remaining healthy and he even managed to lose another 40 pounds after the surgery.

Angie Stone

She was a hip-hop star in the 70’s with The Sequence. Since those days passed, Stone has been battling with her weight. In 2006 she joined VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club and shed 20 pounds. Angie Stone took it even further by dropping her weight by another 75 pounds.

Christian Bale

This Hollywood star is the perfect example of what transforming oneself for different roles looks like. He lost weight for The Machinist, but he gained 70 pounds for Reign of Fire, and then he became muscular for the Dark Knight series.

Shonda Rhimes

The brilliant producer of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, Shonda Rhimes wanted to lose weight. Some people still can’t believe that she managed to lose as many as 127 pounds just by eating healthy and working out.

John Goodman

We all sort of became accustomed to John Goodman being large and overweight. When he was 52 years old he was diagnosed as obese and that was the last straw for him. Goodman took the help of a health and lifestyle coach and managed to lose 100 pounds. Today he’s 65 years old and he looks amazing and healthy!

Ricki Lake

Host of her own talk show, Ricki Lake started to suffer from depression because of her overweight situation. In 2007 she attempted to lose weight by starving herself, but that only made things worse. Eventually she incorporated a healthy weight loss plan that has brought on some wonderful results.

Randy Jackson

Randy Jackson was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes because of the lifestyle he was leading. Jackson was not prepared to allow his life to continue on the tangent that it was on, so he made a decision. His decision was to have a gastric sleeve surgery which helped him lose 130 pounds.

Jill Scott

Since 2009, Jill Scott battled with her weight when the scale showed 263 pounds. She knew that she was in for the long haul when she committed to eating healthy and exercising regularly. Two years later, and see what the natural option looks like.

Zach Galifianakis

Between Two Ferns host, Zach Galifianakis is iconic in his own new and strange way. He showed off his protruding belly a number of times in The Hangover series, but that doesn’t mean he wanted it there permanently. After taking on a diet plan and exercising in his own way, he managed to lose 50 pounds of unwanted weight.

Forest Whitaker

Should we even list all the brilliant works Forest Whitaker was a part of? Before he started to care for his weight, he was 80 pounds heavier than he is today. He committed to stop eating meat, unhealthy fatty foods and he has packed on the veggies.

Sara Rue

Sara Rue found it hard to lose weight, but it usually takes strong motivation. She decided that if she lost weight she would be able to find her love partner. Whether she was right or wrong we’ll never know, but we do know something else. After following the Jenny Craig diet she got her weight under control and she looks fantastic!

Melissa Joan Hart

Who could forget Sabrina the Teenage Witch? Just like many other women, she had a hard time losing weight after giving birth. Regardless of her situation, she pushed forward to cut out fatty foods from her diet and she looks as good as she feels now.

America Ferrera

Ugly Betty star, America Ferrera has always been a curvy actress. But those curves grew more than she wanted them to. Ferrera pursued a very specific diet that focuses on eating protein and not skipping meals. She added supplements that speed up your metabolism to the mix and look at her now.