Fat Joe credits Ozempic for dramatic 200lb weight loss as he dishes on his new diet

American rapper Fat Joe made a startling transformation in July 2023 when he shed 200lbs .

At the time, he didn't specify his secret to major weight loss , but he recently has become more open about his journey. Joe admitted that he was taking Ozempic , but didn't spill or explain how long he was on the drug for. He also opened up about life with the injections and how it impacted his diet.

He told Us Weekly : "Ozempic says you may only have two pieces of your favorite stuff. We just try to eat everything with the least carbs as possible. So we try to stay away from the bread, the pasta, the rice. That’s the smartest way to eat."

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"Like this morning I ate breakfast, I had this toast. I cut the corner off, ate it and kept it moving. Normally I would’ve ate [sic] the whole thing. But you know, that’s what we do. We cut carbs and try to be smarter."

At the time of his weight drop, Joe did explain that he was getting his diabetes under control, but hadn't noted that Ozempic was helping with that process. The semaglutide injectable is often prescribed for type 2 diabetes as a way to improve blood sugar in adults, but doctors still encourage individuals to focus on maintaining a good diet and get plenty of exercise for the best effects.

Joe first began to take his physical health seriously after the death of his friend, Big Pun, who suffered from a heart attack in 2000. While he was being more mindful over the years, he truly doubled-down his focus more recently. "I went to his funeral and I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge. Like, I seen me. And I'm looking at his little daughter. She was the same age as my daughter. I said, 'You gotta lose weight; otherwise you outta here,'' he told Men's Health .

Since much of Joe's branding is around his weight, he definitely needed to contemplate his plans moving forward. However, he's decided that he won't be changing his name, explaining: "Although I've gotten health conscious on another level, it wouldn't make sense to change it. Now it's my brand. It's what I built."