Al Roker it’s recognizing that everyone’s weight loss journey will be a little different.

In an interview published on November 9, the Today co-host, 70, spoke to Daily Mail promoting her new cookbook, Al Roker’s Recipes for Living: Easy, Memorable Family Dishes for Every Occasion.

​​Roker – who underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2002 and has spoken about his weight loss journey – spoke about the realities of food addiction and said he doesn’t have the ability to judge those who turn to trendy weight loss drugs.

“I’m not going to judge anyone,” he told the outlet. “Look, this is unlike any other addiction or dependence. You can live without alcohol, you can live without cigarettes, whatever drug you choose…but you have to eat, and so for some people it’s just hard.

“If that’s what works for them, I mean, who are we to say, ‘Oh, don’t do that.’ As long as it’s safe and effective, good for you,” he added. “I think everyone’s journey is their journey.”

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Roker admitted he hesitates to give advice to those wanting to lose weight or hoping to change their relationship with food, because everyone has good days and bad days.

“It’s difficult and everyone has to face it and find their way,” he explained. “And if this pathway is one of those drugs and it works for them, great.” And if that helps you, if that’s what gets you past the point where you can be healthier and lead a more active lifestyle, that’s great.

Roker had already raised the subject in March during a discussion Oprah Winfreytelevised conversation, called An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolutionwhich addressed how the use of medications like Ozempic, Wegovy And Mounjaro for weight loss have gained popularity.

“Everyone struggles with it and we’re still trying to figure it out,” he said on the show. Today to show. “But no shame, no games. Just stay in your lane and don’t give anyone a hard time.” »

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In 2022, Roker celebrated its 20th anniversary undergo your bypass surgery on social networks. “Hard to believe it was 20 years ago today I wore these size 54 Levi jeans for my 340 pound #gastricbypass and here I am today,” he captioned a video of himself holding his old jeans.

“It’s still a fight but I’ll never go back,” he vowed. “I have setbacks and I struggle every day, but I never forget how far I’ve come.”

In June of the same year, Roker continued to talk about her weight loss journeynoting how much his physical and mental health has improved since incorporating light exercise and a low-carb diet into his daily routine.

“Exercise, not extreme exercise – we do this 30-day walking challenge – that I think improves your mental health,” he said at the time. “In combination with a low-carb diet, I’ve lost about 45 pounds over the past few months. I eat about 100 grams of carbs per day and I walk.”