Inside LGBT icon Jazz Jennings’ 45kg weight gain: the transgender star of I Am Jazz opened up about her eating disorder, mental health and fitness plans
The star of American reality TV show I Am Jazz, Jazz Jennings has been a trailblazer for transgender kids.
On air since 2015, the TLC series features the 21-year-old Jennings and her family “dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth” from their home in South Florida, and has broached topics like early childhood gender dysphoria, gender confirmation surgery, struggles with mental health, bullying and now, in the show’s latest season, Jennings’ 100lb (45kg) weight gain over two years.
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In the season seven premiere of I Am Jazz on November 30, Jennings opened up about her weight gain ahead of attending Harvard University, where she was accepted as a student before deferring for one year in the wake of Covid-19.
Here’s what we know about the LGBTQ+ activist, her weight journey and how she’s coping under the sometimes harsh scrutiny of life in the public eye.
What caused Jazz Jennings’ weight gain?
A combination of an eating disorder, poor mental health and side effects from medication – which may cause increased appetite – were the main factors in the reality starlet’s significant weight increase, according to Jennings.
It’s not the first time she’s struggled with weight
Before she could be approved for her gender confirmation surgery in 2018, Jennings was told she needed to lose 30lb (14kg) by her doctor to be cleared for the operation, reports People. She eventually dropped the weight after she learned to “retrain [her] mind”.
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Her family supports her … or tries their best to, anyway
Despite receiving support from her parents and three siblings throughout her transition process, Jennings says that she has felt “fat-shamed” by them at times. Still, she says that she believes her family means well.
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“They want to see me be happy and healthy and it all comes from a place of love,” Jennings admitted on the show, before adding that her family have also made remarks that “aren’t that kind”.
She’s serious about shedding the pounds
In a social media post illustrating her weight gain, Jennings declared in June that she’s finally ready to take accountability for her health.
“I’m ready to change my ways; I’ve been saying I’m ready to turn over a new leaf, but I’m running out of trees now,” she joked in the caption.
Jennings went on to say that she’s committed to creating positive lifestyle changes, and plans to work with a “fabulous team” of professionals, family and friends, adding that she intends to share her progress during her weight journey with her followers – something to watch out for in her show’s seventh season. We’re rooting for you, Jazz!
- First in the spotlight at age six during a 20/20 interview with Barbara Walters about transgender children, Jennings has led her own reality TV show on TLC since 2015
- The Harvard student, activist and YouTuber will say goodbye to the McDonald’s chicken nuggets, sharing her weight loss journey with her social media followers