Lizzo Discusses Weight Loss and Body Positivity in Recent Interview
Pop sensation Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, recently opened up about how her recent weight loss has affected her fan base. During an interview on March 17, 2025, with Andy Cohen on SiriusXM, Lizzo emphasized her ongoing commitment to the body positivity movement, despite some fans expressing concerns about her journey.
Earlier this year, the 36-year-old artist celebrated achieving her target weight on Instagram. She noted that this shift led some followers to question her status within the body positivity movement, as many perceived her transformation as a departure from her advocacy for body acceptance.
“The body positivity movement was very political and it got taken and kind of commercialized—and now body positivity to people is code word for fat. So they’re like, ‘Oh she’s not body positive anymore.’ I’m not fat anymore.”
Lizzo’s Insights on Body Positivity and Neutrality
As a multi-talented rapper and singer from Detroit, Lizzo has long been a champion of body positivity, consistently incorporating themes of self-love into her music, including her albums Coconut Oil and Cuz I Love You.
During her conversation with Cohen, Lizzo traced the origins of the body-positive movement, outlining that it was established by marginalized individuals often overlooked by mainstream media.
“(It) was actually created by a sub-group of people who were not put in the media, who were not praised, who were told we shouldn’t exist and we weren’t good enough because our bodies were bigger or disabled or even queer and trans people.”
The singer remarked that a recent chapter of the movement, particularly from 2016 onward, involved pushing back against societal pressures telling her “she shouldn’t exist”or “shouldn’t wear leotards.”
The Journey of Transformation
In January, Lizzo revealed her remarkable transformation, disclosing a ten-point decrease in her body mass index (BMI) and a sixteen percent reduction in body fat. While she refrained from disclosing her exact weight, she shared that her fitness journey began last September. Through exercise and dietary changes, she has made significant strides in her health.
Despite speculation surrounding her weight loss methods, including rumors about the use of Ozempic—a medication often associated with weight management—Lizzo remained playful in her response, making light of the remarks from rapper Antonio Brown.
“Holding life like an Ozempic pen.”
Embracing Body Neutrality
In her September 2024 interview with The New York Times, Lizzo articulated her philosophy on “body neutrality,”reflecting a shift in her outlook on body image. She stated:
“The idea of body positivity, it’s moved away from the antiquated mainstream conception. It’s evolved into body neutrality.”
Lizzo acknowledged that while she has days when she feels confident about her body, there are also moments of insecurity. However, she has learned to accept her form as it is.
What’s Next for Lizzo?
Lizzo is actively working on her fifth studio album, titled Love in Real Life. She recently released the album’s lead single of the same name and announced on Instagram that she has completed the project, although an official release date has yet to be confirmed.