Stephen Colbert's 14-Pound Weight Loss Journey: From Appendicitis to a Healthier Lifestyle
Stephen Colbert hilariously quips about his 14 lb weight loss following a successful appendix surgery, jokingly referring to appendicitis as the new Ozempic A witty take on his recent health journey
Following surgery for a ruptured appendix, Stephen Colbert has humorously expressed his gratitude towards his appendix for helping him lose weight due to blood poisoning. At the age of 59, Colbert joked about his recent medical experience while hosting The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on December 11th, calling appendicitis "the new Ozempic."
During the taping of back-to-back episodes of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in November, Colbert shared that his appendix had burst unknowingly. Despite experiencing pain, he chose to carry on with the show, only to later discover the severity of the situation.
When he arrived to film the show, he remarked that the pain was "beyond measure." Although he joked that it was "bearable," Colbert admitted that it hurt "constantly," whether he was moving or not.
"After being on hiatus for five months due to the strike and already missing a week because of COVID, and mostly because I'm foolish, I decided, 'Let's just go ahead with the show,'" Colbert explained. "But it also demonstrates that I have some courage."
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During the filming of a segment on the show, Colbert also reminisced about the time when chef José Andrés unexpectedly pulled him onto the dance floor — a moment for which he admitted he was “not prepared.”
"Remember, I don't want to delve into too much technical detail, but I was in bad shape," Colbert stated. "My insides felt like what the Spanish call 'Paella.'"
Although he managed to complete the show, he admitted to having a high fever and was rushed to the hospital, where it was confirmed that his appendix had burst.
“When they opened me up, it felt like they were taking out John Wick 5 down there,” Colbert quipped. “They have to remove the appendix and then clean everything out. I won’t get into too much detail, but essentially, they use a power washer and a shop vac.”
The TV host thanked the hospital staff at St. Barnabas Hospital in New York City and his Late Show With Stephen Colbert team, who he said “truly went above and beyond to support me during that taping and keep me going.”
While thanking those who reached out to give him well wishes, Colbert also joked he would “never forget” the ones that didn’t.
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One week after Colbert announced the news that he had to unexpectedly cancel five episodes due to the surgery, he extended his hiatus for a little longer to continue his path to recovery.
“I’m listening to my doctors and continuing to rest and heal,” Colbert wrote via Threads earlier this month. “Thank you for all your well wishes and I’ll see you soon.”
