Jelly Roll Shares Inspiring Weight Loss Journey and Details His Use of Metformin
Jelly Roll is sharing details about his remarkable journey to shed almost 300 pounds.
In an interview with Men’s Health, published in January 2025, he explained, “I simply recall everyone suggesting GLP-1 medications, or taking drugs like Ozempic or Mounjaro, saying, ‘Listen, it might cause some discomfort in your stomach.’ I’ve neglected my body so severely, I can hardly believe God has given me this voice for so long. I didn’t feel worthy of it. I honestly didn’t pursue this out of fear.”
The musician also disclosed that he required hospitalization. “Even before I began addressing my blood work, I sought mental health counseling to understand my overeating habits. I started viewing my relationship with food as the addiction it truly was. Why did I approach cocaine differently? I attended meetings for cocaine, found a sponsor, and endured a difficult detoxification process, making significant emotional changes to overcome it. I didn’t treat my food cravings any differently. Once I began recognizing food as an addiction, everything began to shift for me.”
Although Jelly Roll didn’t utilize GLP-1 medications, he was prescribed metformin, a pharmaceutical commonly used to manage diabetes. Continue reading to discover more about this medication and how it aided the singer in his weight loss efforts.
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Metformin Is Primarily Used to Treat Diabetes
According to Harvard Health, the drug received approval for use in Europe in 1959 and in the United States in 1995. It is the most frequently prescribed medication for diabetes treatment for individuals who struggle to control their blood sugar levels through diet and exercise alone.
Metformin Offers Additional Advantages
Harvard Health also pointed out that the drug provides other therapeutic benefits. These include addressing prediabetes (the drug can potentially delay the onset of symptoms), gestational diabetes (which some women experience during pregnancy), polycystic ovarian syndrome (the drug can help regulate the menstrual cycle), and weight gain resulting from the use of antipsychotic medications.
Researchers are also currently investigating whether the drug can assist in reducing the risk of cancer for individuals with type 2 diabetes, lowering the risk of dementia and stroke, and preventing age-related conditions.
Why Jelly Roll Used Metformin
Jelly Roll collaborated with nurse practitioner Danese Raxroad, who provided treatment through Ways2Well. Jelly Roll was diagnosed with elevated levels of insulin, which he described to Men’s Health as “exceptionally high.”
“Insulin is designed to facilitate glucose entering the cells,” Raxroad explained to the outlet. “When you have an excessive amount of insulin, it prompts your body to store fat. So, by adjusting those receptors and altering the signals Jelly’s body was sending with insulin, it helped him quickly improve his insulin resistance. I wasn’t conducting a complex scientific study. It was simply about strategic meal timing and consuming whole, unprocessed foods.”
The objective for Jelly Roll was for the drug to help lower his triglycerides, the fat particles circulating in his blood.
Does Metformin Have Side Effects?
Like many medications, metformin can cause side effects. According to Harvard Health, these may include mild gastrointestinal issues such as stomach discomfort and nausea; some individuals may also experience a severe allergic reaction or develop lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream.
