“I think those drugs can be good”: Rebel Wilson opens up about her weight loss

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Rebel Wilson, the actress, discussed her journey of losing weight, the use of weight loss medications, and Victoria’s Secret models. She also shared insights about her upcoming memoir, Rebel Rising: A Memoir, which is scheduled to be published on April 2, 2024.

During her interview, Wilson mentioned that she had used Ozempic for a short period to sustain the weight she had shed. Reflecting on her experience with the treatment, she remarked:

“Someone like me could have a bottomless appetite for sweets, so I think those drugs can be good.”

Ozempic is an FDA-approved medication for treating type 2 diabetes, and it has gained attention for its alleged use by a number of celebrities for weight loss. This has sparked criticism from individuals worldwide, who have raised concerns about the ethical implications of using a diabetes drug for purely cosmetic reasons, especially considering the current shortage of the medication for those who truly need it.

Rebel Wilson’s weight loss journey fueled by her dream of parenthood

Rebel Wilson and Ramona Agruma at the 2024 AACTA Awards in Australia (Image via Getty)

In regards to her initial days, Rebel Wilson mentioned that her career seemed to be tied to her weight. She also stated that her choice to lose weight was met with hesitation.

“Basically no one apart from my mom wanted me to lose weight. People thought I’d lose my pigeonhole in my career, playing the fat funny character, and they wanted me to continue in that.”

Rebel Wilson’s weight-loss journey was largely motivated by her desire to become a mother. In an interview, she revealed that her doctor had advised her to lose weight in order to increase her chances of success with IVF.

To reach her goal, she explained that she incorporated walks into her routine and followed a diet that was rich in protein and low in sugar. Nevertheless, what truly helped her were her regular discussions with a doctor who highlighted the connection between her emotions and food. She added:

“I wasn’t dealing with my emotions properly, I was just stuffing my face and holding on to them. So as we spoke the weight just kinda dropped off.”

She emphasized the significance of young women having realistic role models to look up to.

“I feel strongly that young women shouldn’t try to obsess over looking like Victoria’s Secret models — they should just look like themselves.”

During an interview with People magazine, Wilson also discussed her role as a body positivity icon.

“I think to many people I’m a beacon of body positivity because I see people who are considered medically obese if you look at their weight, but I think they are absolutely beautiful. I really think beauty is in any shape and size so I do really promote that. So, people are like, ‘Well, how can you be so body-positive and then be hating yourself’? But I wasn’t hating myself, I was only hating those shameful behaviors.”

Despite sharing about the challenges of balancing body positivity with self-hatred, she also opened up about the difficulties of maintaining a positive body image.

“I’m like, ‘How can I be a person who excels in so many things, and gets two university degrees, and can make millions of dollars, and can start from nothing and then create this huge career, but I couldn’t lose weight. I would always beat myself up about that and go, ‘What’s wrong with me?’”

Simon and Schuster, the publishing house, characterizes Rebel Wilson’s upcoming memoir as:

“Rebel writes for the first time about the most personal and important moments in her life—from fertility issues, weight gain and loss, s*xuality, overcoming shyness, rejections, and, well…okay there’s at least one story thrown in about Brad Pitt!”

The memoir, which chronicles her journey in Hollywood, is set to be published on April 2.