Fat Joe is a musician whose large body type helped create his stage name, but he may want to start going by something else after his dramatic weight loss.
The rapper shared that he has lost 250 pounds over the last ten years and his appearance has changed drastically. In recent interviews, he’s revealed exactly what he’s done to get in better shape, including eating a healthier diet and using the weight loss medication Ozempic. His weight loss is giving folks an example of times when proper use of weight loss medications can work to change someone’s life for the better, and he’s now eating a lot “smarter.” Read more about his transformation below.
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Fat Joe Reveals He's Lost 250-Lbs Over The Last Decade
The musician, whose full name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, is best known for his hit songs "All The Way Up" and "Lean Back," built his stage name on his large body, but over the last few years, it's slimmed down quite a bit. In several exclusive interviews over the last year, he opened up about what made him want to lose weight and how he went about doing it.
During an April 9th episode of the Today series, 3rd Hour, he spoke with the show's hosts about his latest weight loss update and how he's lost around 250 pounds in the last year, calling himself "not so fat Joe."
In 2023, he told Men's Health that one of the reasons why he decided to change his life and get healthier was due to the sudden death of his collaborator and friend who went by Big Pun, a rapper who died at the age of 28 due to a heart attack. At his funeral in 2000, Joe looked at his friend's daughter and realized he needed to lose weight to support his daughter, who was the same age at the time.
While talking to US Weekly, the 54-year-old mentioned that two of the most crucial elements to his weight loss were cardio workouts and the reduction of carbs in his diet. "We just try to eat everything with the least carbs as possible," he told the publication.
"So we try to stay away from the bread, the pasta, the rice. That's the smartest way to eat."
While the musician acknowledged that eating carbs is important, he's been working hard to avoid binging on them or making them the majority of his diet, especially because he started taking the weight loss drug, Ozempic.
Fat Joe Credits Ozempic For Helping Him Lose A Drastic Amount Of Weight Over The Years
Because the rapper weighed a whopping 470 pounds at his heaviest, he told US Weekly in 2021 that he had started taking Ozempic to assist him during his health journey. In addition to eating healthier, more nutrient-dense foods, Joe mentioned that taking Ozempic helped him take control of his appetite and curb his cravings.
He opened up about how the medication helped him on a daily basis, stating, "This morning, I ate breakfast; I had this toast."
"I cut the corner off, ate it, and kept it moving," he continued. "Normally, I would've [eaten] the whole thing. But you know, that's what we do. We cut carbs and try to be smarter."
Although Ozempic has been a controversial medication, as some celebrities have taken it without a type-2 diabetes diagnosis, which is what the injection was initially intended for, in cases like Joe's, it's helped him not only slim down at a decent pace but also assisted him in reducing his appetite, which was significant for his health journey.
Now, Fat Joe, or 'Not-So-Fat Joe,' seems to be a lot happier and healthier as he prepares to release new music and start a whole new chapter of his life with a slimmer waistline.
