Chaz Bono weight loss was reported at about 60 pounds by People magazine and about 65 pounds in an ABC News headline in 2013. He said he changed what he ate, with more meat, fruit and vegetables and fewer grains and starches, and added exercise, dancing and martial arts. His summary: “Diets don’t work. You just have to change what you eat.” No verified starting weight exists.
Chaz Bono is a writer, activist and the child of Cher and Sonny Bono. He took part in Dancing with the Stars in 2011. This page covers only what he has said about weight, and when.
Chaz Bono weight loss: reported figures and methods
| Source | What was reported |
|---|---|
| WQAD, quoting People (undated) | 60 pounds lost, and “still losing”. Methods: more meat, fruits and vegetables, fewer grains and starches, plus exercise, dancing and martial arts. |
| ABC News headline, May 2013 | “Chaz Bono on losing 65 lbs.” |
| Out magazine, 13 November 2012 | He said he “wasn’t an overweight child” yet “was put on diets all of the time”. |
Why the 60 and 65 pound figures differ
The two figures are not a contradiction. The earlier report said he was still losing. The 2013 headline came later, so it captures more weight lost. Neither states where he started, so you cannot work out a percentage change from them.
Older versions of his story online give start and end weights, a named doctor and a calorie count for jump rope. We found no source for any of them.
What he said about diets and his body
Two statements stand out. In 2012 he told Out that he was put on diets constantly as a child despite not being overweight, and that thinness carried a lot of pressure in his family. He also said a doctor told him his weight was ideal while he was still pushed to diet.
In People, he said, “Because I’m transgender, I was always completely disconnected from my body.” For him, changing how he ate and moved went hand in hand with feeling at home in his body. That is his account, and it is a reminder that weight stories rarely come down to food alone.
What is supported, overstated or not supported
| Claim you may see | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| He lost about 60 to 65 pounds | Supported by People (via WQAD) and an ABC News headline. |
| He changed his eating and added dancing and martial arts | Supported. He described it himself. |
| He started at an exact weight such as 250 or 190 pounds | Not supported. No source gives a starting weight. |
| A named doctor designed his plan | Not supported. We found no source. |
| Jump rope burns more than 1,000 calories an hour | Not supported. No source, and burn rates vary by person. |
| Specific exercises such as burpees target fat on the chest or core | Not supported. Exercise does not remove fat from one area on request. |
| He had surgery that caused his weight loss | Not supported. No source says so. |
Safety: if you want to change how you eat or move
- Pace: The CDC cites about 1 to 2 pounds a week for gradual loss. MedlinePlus cites 0.5 to 1 pound. Both are shown because the sources differ.
- Children and teenagers: Dieting needs paediatric or family doctor advice. Weight pressure in childhood can leave lasting effects, as his account shows.
- Starting exercise: If you have a heart, joint or other health condition, or have been inactive, check with your doctor before high-intensity work.
- Warning signs: If food or weight feels controlling, speak to your doctor. In the US, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders runs a helpline. In the UK, Beat offers support.
Third-party video. We have not verified the channel or its claims.
Photos of Chaz Bono
Frequently asked questions
He said he changed what he ate, with more meat, fruit and vegetables and fewer grains and starches, and added exercise, dancing and martial arts.
People reported about 60 pounds and an ABC News headline in May 2013 said 65 pounds. No starting weight was given.
He said, Diets do not work, you just have to change what you eat. He was describing a lasting change in food habits, not a short diet.
He listed dancing as part of his routine, alongside martial arts and eating changes. No study isolates how much each part contributed.
They were given at different dates. An earlier report said he was still losing, and a later headline reported a higher total.
In 2012 he told Out he was not an overweight child but was put on diets all the time, and that there was pressure to be thin.
The CDC cites about 1 to 2 pounds a week and MedlinePlus cites 0.5 to 1 pound. Ask your doctor what suits you.
Start with your doctor. In the US, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders runs a helpline, and in the UK, Beat offers support.
Related reading
- 30+ celebrity weight loss transformations
- Gabriel Iglesias weight loss: what he has said, with dates
- Billy Gardell weight loss transformation
- Sustainable weight loss: habits that hold
Sources
- WQAD: Chaz Bono drops 60 pounds (quoting People)
- Out: Chaz Bono says he was forced to diet as a child (13 November 2012)
- ABC News: Chaz Bono on losing 65 lbs (May 2013, headline only)
- CDC: Losing weight
- MedlinePlus: Weight loss, how fast is too fast
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not diagnose any person. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing how you eat or exercise. Last reviewed and rewritten October 2026.
