Here's What James Corden Credits With His Weight Loss
When people think of James Corden, his charm, humor, and Carpool Karaoke segments on his late night show probably first come to mind. But after years of fighting his weight in silence, Corden became a WW (formerly Weight Watchers) spokesman in January 2021, and recently opened up about his impressive 23 pound weight loss, reports People. He credits the WW program with changing his mindset, not just about food, but about the idea of dieting in general. On an interview on BBC Radio 2 he said, "I've done every single diet in the world ... and what I've realized is the notion of going on a diet is wrong. You're not going on a diet. You're gonna change the way you eat."
When he announced his partnership with WW on YouTube, he talked candidly, and sometimes emotionally, about his struggles with dieting and how it affected him. "It started to get me down, in a way, that I've just sort of never really been able to stick to anything." Determined to make a change, Corden reached out to WW for help. "They said, 'If you stick with our regime, which is more about wellness and health, feeling better, rather than just trying to lose a load of weight, this can absolutely work,'" he recalled. "And they said very kindly that they would help me through this every step of the way. This is a change that I really, really wanted to make."
Corden planned to take the year to make the change
But for Corden, getting thinner wasn't the goal; rather, it was getting healthier and fitter for his family. He said in a WW press release in January (posted at PR Newswire), "I want to change the way that I live. I want to be better for my children and for my family. I don't want to wake up tired, or feel embarrassed when I'm chasing my son on the soccer field and out of breath after three minutes. The weight is not the issue, it's the wellness of it I am ready to tackle."
Corden put his faith in WW to help him finally achieve his health and fitness goals. "I'm gonna do it," he declared on YouTube. "I'm gonna embark on this year of health because I absolutely believe that they have the tools in place to make this the year that I really do make this change." And his trust has seemingly been validated. In April he went back on the WW YouTube channel and talked about how the program has made him feel empowered in his wellness journey. "Since I've joined WW, it's been revolutionary for me. In two months I feel like I'm completely in charge of [my weight] in a way that I didn't."
Fellow WW spokeswoman Oprah Winfrey is also a believer
Oprah Winfrey has talked openly about her weight struggles for many years, but joining WW made a difference for her, too. In a 2016 WW press release, Oprah said, "Weight Watchers is easier than any other program I've ever been on. It's a lifestyle, a way of eating and a way of living that's so freeing." She believes in the program so much she became a WW investor in 2015.
In February, Corden spoke with Oprah on YouTube and talked about how much the program is changing his mindset. "This is a journey I have to go on where I have to change my relationship with food and change the way that I consume food," he stated. "And I don't have to starve myself of all of these things that I love and enjoy. What I have to do is be more accountable for what I'm putting in my body and think more about that every day. And I have to say ... I've found this past five or so weeks incredibly transformative for me."
Corden noted that in the past, restrictive diets didn't work for him. If he had a day where he didn't eat as well, he would use that as an excuse to stop dieting. But he says WW is different, because it's making him eat more consciously. "Every single time I put food into my body I'm gonna be aware of what it is," he told Oprah. "So it's just made me more aware of it all."
Other famous people have found wellness success with WW
There have been many other famous people who have found success on their weight loss journeys with WW, Women's Health notes. Jennifer Hudson lost 80 pounds on the diet, and also became an ambassador for a number of years. She told People, "My experience with Weight Watchers has truly been life changing. I am grateful for what I have learned throughout the process and will always take it with me."
Other celebrities found success as well, like Jessica Simpson, who lost 50 pounds in 2014 after giving birth. Singer Ciara (pictured above) and actress Kate Hudson have also become WW ambassadors, opening up about how having children has motivated both of them to set good examples of eating healthy, keeping fit, and finding lifestyle balance for their families.
For Corden, his family has been not only a source of inspiration, but also his greatest champions. He told Oprah about how much their support has meant to his success. "My wife has been incredible in this. In my whole journey with food she's been really, really amazing with me." He continued, "I'm on a start of a journey that I'm determined to finish, and I feel that I can."