TV Chef Rosemary Shrager Opens Up About Ozempic Use and Weight Loss Journey
Renowned British chef Rosemary Shrager has made a candid revelation about her significant weight loss transformation, stating emphatically that "diets always fail" while discussing her temporary use of the medication Ozempic. The 75-year-old television personality, who once weighed 20 stone at her heaviest, has shed an impressive 4 stone through a combination of medical assistance and a fundamental shift in her approach to food.
"I Absolutely Did Use Ozempic"
In a revealing new interview with the Daily Mail, Shrager addressed speculation about her slimmer physique head-on. "Yes, I absolutely did use Ozempic, because I needed some help," she confessed. "I personally needed some help at the time, and I got some help. The doctor gave me some help because they knew I did need some help - but only for a short time."
The chef was quick to clarify that her use of the medication, which has faced considerable stigma since its weight loss properties gained attention in 2021, was strictly temporary. She credited Ozempic as a helpful tool but emphasized that she only used it for six months. "Anybody who says they don't work is wrong, because they do help," Shrager stated. "But you can't stay on them forever."
Moving Beyond Diet Culture
Shrager's experience with numerous diets throughout her life has led her to a firm conclusion about traditional weight loss approaches. "I've been big all my life, so I've been on every diet. They always fail," she explained. "That's why I don't like diets. When you think of diet, diet is failing to me. You fail."
Instead of calorie counting or restrictive eating plans, the chef has embraced a more sustainable philosophy. "It's not about calorie counting or anything like that - it's just being healthy," she said. "It's not a diet. It's about changing your mindset and getting into the habit of being healthy - and that's something that can't really fail."
Shrager now focuses on maintaining her weight through healthy living rather than pursuing further weight loss. "For me, I'm at a stage now where I'm living healthily. I'm sustaining my weight and I'm doing this purely to feel good about myself, not for weight loss," she revealed. "I'm not doing this for weight loss anymore - I'm doing this purely to feel good and healthy."
Collaboration with Digital Health Provider
To help others manage food temptations without resorting to traditional diets, Shrager has partnered with digital health provider Numan to create a digital cookbook. Developed alongside Numan's experts in behavioural science, the cookbook emphasizes:
- Bold flavours and satisfying meals
- Nutrient-dense foods that promote fullness
- Recipes designed to work with natural brain responses to food
The cookbook, which launched on January 21, features recipes like Fakeaway Friday Salmon, Go-To Beans on Toast, and Sweet Beet Brownies, with new recipes added weekly. Zoe Griffiths, VP of Behavioural Medicine and Registered Dietitian at Numan, explained the approach: "Cravings aren't a failure of willpower. They're your brain responding exactly as it's designed to. When we're tired or stressed, our brains seek an energy boost or a quick reward - and food is the easiest option."
"Rather than asking people to cut things out, the recipes are designed to work with your brain, delivering nourishment and pleasure," Griffiths added. "Cravings don't disappear. But they don't have to be in control either."
All recipes are currently available for viewing on Numan's website, offering an alternative approach to weight management that aligns with Shrager's philosophy of sustainable healthy living over temporary dieting.
