Chrissy Teigen is speaking candidly about her relationship with food and the controversial use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, saying she quietly began taking the medication after the loss of her son Jack at 20 weeks gestation in September 2020. On Thursday’s episode of her Self-Conscious podcast, the model, 39, described existing in a body that didn’t feel like hers and said there was nothing to celebrate after the miscarriage. She wrote on Instagram that she started Ozempic after Jack’s loss, explaining the body that once carried life was now a sad reminder.
In describing the experience, Teigen said the drug dulled her appetite, but the psychological impact of losing hunger was far from easy. In a clip from her conversation with author Johann Hari, she said, “For me it’s almost torturous not being hungry at all. I love being hungry. I love craving food. I love desiring food.” She added that food has always been both comfort and challenge, and the Ozempic effects left her conflicted and contemplative about how she relates to eating. [IMAGE]
The Cravings cookbook author acknowledged the stigma surrounding Ozempic, calling it a “dirty little buzzword” and a “polarizing, clickbaity topic.” Yet she underscored that the discussion isn’t about judgment, but honesty. Teigen, who is married to John Legend and is a mother of four, said she has never loved workouts and has long been consumed by thoughts about food. She noted that she keeps a candy drawer by her bed and that Legend makes her a so-called “sleep sandwich” every night, which she consumes around 2 a.m.
She credited Ozempic with releasing her from the prison of thinking about food in negative terms, acknowledging a shift in how she approached eating. Teigen recalled gaining weight during pregnancy—about 70 pounds—followed by additional weight she felt uncomfortable with after the loss. She said she had tried Ozempic for “maybe like a year or so” even before the miscarriage, describing the journey as a blend of relief, shame, and emotional complexity.
Teigen’s openness reflects a broader, ongoing conversation about weight-loss medications and their emotional dimensions. The discussion with Hari covered not only the practical effects of the drugs but also the sense of relief that some users report, alongside the stigma and cultural scrutiny that accompany their use. For Teigen, the goal of sharing is honesty and connection, not judgment, as she navigates a life shaped by public attention and personal loss.
As a public figure who often speaks about family, food, and balance, Teigen’s remarks add to a nuanced picture of how people manage body image and health in an era of rising popularity of medications like Ozempic. Her story underscores that the conversation around weight, appetite, and healing after trauma can be deeply personal, emotional, and sometimes humorous, even as it remains controversial in broader society.