Jeremy Clarkson is on a mission to trim down, and he’s not been shy about sharing the rollercoaster ride of his weight loss attempts. Having faced serious health scares, the outspoken television personality has had to overhaul his lifestyle. Back in October, 64-year-old Jeremy divulged a startling revelation: a heart surgery that narrowly saved him from a potentially lethal heart attack.
Pursuing a svelte figure and better health has proven to be a daunting battle for Clarkson. Writing in The Times, he recounted his drastic measure of using Ozempic – a medication intended for type 2 diabetes management – to slim down two years ago, only to find himself falling ill as the treatment “didn’t work” in his favour. While Ozempic is engineered to help people with diabetes, its weight loss side effect has prompted some to use it for slimming purposes despite it not being marketed as a diet drug.
The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host revealed his struggle with moderation after using the drug: “My body lost the ability to deal with gluttony, but once the initial enthusiasm had worn off, my mind still wanted to breakfast on Cadbury Fruit and Nut.
“This meant I was sick a lot. And after I had vomited, I figured I was empty and could have another bottle and maybe another bar of chocolate, too.”
Clarkson divulged that his stint with Ozempic ended after half a year, with the scales tipping slightly higher than before. The switch to “micro-dosing” Mounjaro, another type 2 diabetes medication, appears promising for the past quarter of a year.
The presenter from The Grand Tour illustrated his newfound dietary discipline: “I can open the fridge, look at all the goodies in there and then close it. I haven’t lost any weight but it seems inevitable that, as I no longer want to eat my own body weight in chocolate and beef, I will.”
Despite his optimism for a slimmer future, Clarkson expressed irritation over his diminished desire for treats. With chocolate off the menu, he’s migrated towards high-end nibbles enjoyed in minuscule servings.
Delving into the details of his new eating habits, he shared an exotic find: “I’ve also discovered snail caviar, which is… actually unborn snails. But weirdly it does taste and feel like the real deal.”
He quipped about his cutting-edge dining choice: “So you can pop a teaspoon of that onto half a Ritz cracker, and you have yourself the 21st century’s answer to a medieval banquet.”
Acknowledging the link between his health and lifestyle, Jeremy recalled the reality check delivered by having a stent installed. Fuelled by concerns for his well-being and the recent birth of his second granddaughter by his daughter Emily in December, he’s under orders to overhaul his lavish fare, historically laden with alcohol, red meat, and cigarettes mentioned back in January.
“I do feel very well. I have been to see a dietician. The dietician has given me a pretty good list and said, ‘Don’t eat processed food. If it has more than one ingredient, don’t eat it.’ I feel great,” he summarised.