Jonathan Van Ness Bares Soul on Binge-Eating Battle and Weight-Loss Medication Journey

Paul Riverbank, 1/10/2025Jonathan Van Ness candidly shares his journey with binge-eating disorder and using weight-loss medication, sparking a broader conversation about metabolic health and destigmatizing seeking help.

The 37-year-old explained that his binge-eating disorder had spiraled out of control, leading to rapid weight fluctuations and a negative impact on his mental health. "With everything I've been through publicly and privately in the last couple years, I gained quite a bit of weight, wasn't feeling good," he shared. "The most important thing was, my binge-eating disorder was out of control. I was consistently making decisions that I regretted with compulsive eating and with bingeing that just left me feeling really not good, depressed and out of control."

Van Ness's decision to seek medical assistance came after trying various methods to manage his condition, including taking weight-loss medication in pill form, which proved ineffective. He has been using injectable GLP-1 medications since September, and the results have been transformative. "I, for the first time in my life, have had control over my food intake," he explained. "It has helped me so massively, and that's part of why I wanna be honest with you about it because I know how important asking for help is, and how much asking for help can change your life in terms of healing. This time, I needed help."

The television personality's openness about his struggles and his decision to use weight-loss medication has sparked a broader conversation about the role of such treatments in managing binge-eating disorders and promoting metabolic health. Van Ness recently hosted Dr. Terry Simpson, a surgeon and culinary medicine expert, on his "Getting Curious" podcast to delve deeper into the topic, exploring whether weight-loss medications are "the future of weight loss and metabolic health" or "just another wellness trend."

With his candid approach and willingness to share his personal journey, Van Ness has once again demonstrated his commitment to breaking down stigmas and fostering open dialogues around mental health and body image issues. His transparency serves as a reminder that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a courageous step towards healing and self-care.

Jonathan Van Ness, the hairstylist and Queer Eye alum, has opened up about his struggle with a binge-eating disorder and his decision to take weight-loss medication to regain control over his eating habits. In a candid TikTok video, Van Ness revealed, "Yes, I am on a GLP-1 or a weight-loss medication. If you have been following me for a long time, you'll know that I gained and lost weight several times very publicly. And this time in my life, I knew that I needed a little bit of extra help."The 37-year-old explained that his binge-eating disorder had spiraled out of control, leading to rapid weight fluctuations and a negative impact on his mental health. "With everything I've been through publicly and privately in the last couple years, I gained quite a bit of weight, wasn't feeling good," he shared. "The most important thing was, my binge-eating disorder was out of control. I was consistently making decisions that I regretted with compulsive eating and with bingeing that just left me feeling really not good, depressed and out of control."Van Ness's decision to seek medical assistance came after trying various methods to manage his condition, including taking weight-loss medication in pill form, which proved ineffective. He has been using injectable GLP-1 medications since September, and the results have been transformative. "I, for the first time in my life, have had control over my food intake," he explained. "It has helped me so massively, and that's part of why I wanna be honest with you about it because I know how important asking for help is, and how much asking for help can change your life in terms of healing. This time, I needed help."The television personality's openness about his struggles and his decision to use weight-loss medication has sparked a broader conversation about the role of such treatments in managing binge-eating disorders and promoting metabolic health. Van Ness recently hosted Dr. Terry Simpson, a surgeon and culinary medicine expert, on his "Getting Curious" podcast to delve deeper into the topic, exploring whether weight-loss medications are "the future of weight loss and metabolic health" or "just another wellness trend."With his candid approach and willingness to share his personal journey, Van Ness has once again demonstrated his commitment to breaking down stigmas and fostering open dialogues around mental health and body image issues. His transparency serves as a reminder that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a courageous step towards healing and self-care.