Jonathan Van Ness takes a weight loss drug in the midst of binge eating

Jonathan Van Ness he takes weight loss medication to help him deal with a binge eating disorder that he says has caused him to gain and lose weight rapidly in the past.

Hairdresser a A strange eye alum, 37, shared a post via TikTok on Wednesday, January 8, that it uses GLP-1, a category of drugs that includes Ozempic and is used to treat diabetes and help with weight loss.

According to Cleveland ClinicGLP-1 drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone that the small intestine naturally produces. The hormone slows down the emptying of the stomach and increases the feeling of fullness after a meal.

“Okay, I have a confession to make. Yes, I take GLP-1 or weight loss drugs,” Van Ness said in his post. “If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you’ll know that I’ve gained and lost weight very publicly several times. And this time in my life, I knew I needed a little extra help.”

While Van Ness said he has tried taking the medication as a pill in the past, it didn’t work. He now uses injectable GLP-1.

“With everything I’ve been through in the last few years publicly and privately, I’ve put on quite a bit of weight, I haven’t been feeling well,” Van Ness added. “The most important thing was that my binge eating was out of control.

He continued: “I was consistently making decisions that I regretted due to compulsive eating and binge eating that just left me feeling unwell, depressed and out of control.”

Van Ness started taking the injections in September and says he “felt better right away.”

Related: Reality TV star weight loss transformations: Before and after photos

Hannah Jiles, Janelle Brown and more reality TV personalities have been candid about their weight loss since appearing in front of the camera. In turn, Hannah often discussed body positivity during Love Is Blind Season 7, which aired in October 2024. “I’ve always struggled with my weight my whole life. Whether I was thin or whether I was (…)

“For the first time in my life, I was in control of my food intake,” he explained. “It helped me tremendously and I want to be honest with you because I know how important it is to ask for help and how much asking for help can change your life in terms of recovery. This time I needed help.”

Van Ness added that he did Dr. Terry Simpsonsurgeon and expert in culinary medicine, on his “We’re getting curious” podcast this week to talk more about weight loss drugs and whether they are “the future of weight loss and metabolic health” or “just another wellness trend”.

“I have so many questions, so we’ll come back to that,” he said. “We love you, I love you and thank you for listening and I wish you all a good day.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit National Alliance for Eating Disorders or call their hotline at +1 (866) 662-1235. Text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 toll free, 24/7 support.