James Argent Weight Loss: How He Lost 14 Stone Via Surgery

There are weight loss stories, and then there’s the kind that makes you double-take at a before-and-after photo — James Argent, known as Arg from The Only Way Is Essex, shed 14 stone (196 pounds) between 2021 and 2024, going from a visibly unwell 27 stone to a toned 13 stone. The change wasn’t just cosmetic: it involved gastric sleeve surgery, a complete lifestyle overhaul, and later skin removal, and what follows is the verified breakdown of how he did it, what he used (and didn’t use), and how the approach compares to celebrity weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

Heaviest weight: 27 stone (378 lbs) · Total lost: 14 stone (196 lbs) · Method: Gastric sleeve surgery + lifestyle changes · Current age: 36

Eight key facts, one clear pattern: James Argent’s transformation combines a permanent surgical intervention with behavioural change — a combination that, for now, has held better than drug-only approaches among his peers.

How did James Argent lose weight?

James Argent’s weight loss surgery

• On April 8, 2021, Argent underwent a gastric sleeve procedure at Transforming Lives, a UK weight loss surgery provider (Transforming Lives, NHS-registered clinic).
• The operation removes about 80% of the stomach, limiting food intake and triggering hormonal changes that reduce appetite.
• Doctors warned him his weight was a risk to his life (Transforming Lives).

His diet and exercise routine

After surgery, Argent overhauled his eating habits and started exercising regularly. In a June 2022 appearance on Lorraine, he described shifting from a diet dominated by takeaways and alcohol to balanced meals and daily walks (Lorraine / ITV). He also addressed his history of food addiction, which had coexisted with alcohol and drug struggles.

• Cut out sugary drinks and processed food
• Focused on lean protein, vegetables, and small portion sizes
• Included light strength training and walking

Timeline of his transformation

• 2019-2020: Reaches 27 stone during lockdown.
• April 8, 2021: Undergoes gastric sleeve surgery (Transforming Lives).
• 2022: Loses 13-14 stone, appearing on Lorraine to discuss his new lease on life (Lorraine / YouTube).
• 2023: Undergoes skin removal surgery to address loose skin (The Independent).
• 2024: Shows off toned physique in Marbella, maintains weight at around 13 stone.

Steps in his transformation

1. Undergoing gastric sleeve surgery on April 8, 2021
2. Overhauling diet: cutting out sugary drinks and processed food, focusing on lean protein and vegetables
3. Starting daily walks and light strength training
4. Undergoing skin removal surgery in 2023 to address loose skin
5. Maintaining weight with continued diet and exercise

The implication: surgical intervention, while drastic, provided a forced reset that Argent leveraged with behavioural change to achieve long-term results.

What was James Argent’s heaviest weight?

His weight before weight loss

Argent’s heaviest documented weight is 27 stone (378 lbs), which he reached during the 2020 lockdown. According to his surgery provider, doctors had warned him that his weight had become a life-threatening risk (Transforming Lives, UK weight loss provider).

• At 26-27 stone, he was classified as morbidly obese with a BMI well over 50.
• He struggled with basic tasks — his family had to help tie his shoelaces.
• He later said he “couldn’t walk up the stairs without being out of breath”.

The impact of his weight on health

Argent’s excess weight contributed to sleep apnoea, joint pain, and mental health decline. His family staged an intervention, urging him to seek medical help before it was too late.

Family intervention

Speaking on Lorraine in 2022, Argent revealed that his mother and sister had confronted him about his drinking and eating habits. “They said, ‘We’re going to lose you if you don’t change,'” he recalled (Lorraine / ITV).

The catch: even after losing weight, the underlying health risks remain if maintenance fails.

How much weight has Gemma Collins lost on Mounjaro?

Gemma Collins’ Mounjaro usage

Gemma Collins, Argent’s former TOWIE co-star, has been open about using the weight loss drug Mounjaro (tirzepatide). She reportedly lost 3.5 stone (49 lbs) with the medication (The Independent).

Comparison with James Argent’s weight loss method

• Argent’s gastric sleeve is a one-time surgical intervention.
• Gemma Collins uses a weekly injectable drug that requires ongoing use.
• Argent lost 14 stone; Collins lost 3.5 stone — a difference of 10.5 stone.

Body confidence journey

Collins has spoken about her body confidence improving with the weight loss, but also noted the difficulty of maintaining results without the drug. She has not disclosed plans to stop Mounjaro.

The pattern: drug-based approaches offer reversibility but require perpetual compliance, whereas surgery demands a one-time commitment with irreversible consequences.

Which celebrity used Ozempic to lose weight?

James Corden and Ozempic

James Corden has acknowledged using Ozempic (semaglutide) to lose weight, calling it “really helpful” on his talk show (The Independent). Corden’s experience mirrors a wider trend among celebrities turning to GLP-1 drugs for rapid weight loss.

Other celebrities on Ozempic

• Elon Musk credited Wegovy (a higher-dose version of Ozempic) for his weight loss.
• Sharon Osbourne has spoken about using Ozempic and Mounjaro.
• Kelly Clarkson has also been linked to Mounjaro, though she claims diet and exercise are her primary methods.

These drugs help control appetite and slow gastric emptying, but they are intended for diabetes management — their use for weight loss is off-label.

Ozempic vs Mounjaro

Both drugs belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class. Mounjaro (tirzepatide) targets an additional hormone receptor and has shown greater weight loss in clinical trials. However, both come with side effects (nausea, vomiting, gallstones) and a high rate of weight regain after discontinuation.

The implication: drug-assisted weight loss creates a temporary window that must be used to establish lasting habits.

Has anyone gone off Ozempic and kept weight off?

Studies on weight regain after stopping Ozempic

A 2021 study in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism found that patients regained roughly two-thirds of the weight lost after one year of stopping semaglutide (PubMed / National Institutes of Health). The drug works by suppressing appetite; without it, the body’s natural hunger signals return.

Celebrity experiences

Some celebrities, like Sharon Osbourne, have reported maintaining weight after stopping Ozempic by adopting stricter eating habits. Others have cycled on and off the drug, leading to yo-yo weight changes.

Strategies to maintain weight loss

• Combine drug therapy with exercise and diet during treatment.
• Use a lower maintenance dose or switch to a longer-acting medication.
• Consider surgical options like gastric sleeve for permanent results.

The catch: drugs offer a reversible, less invasive entry point, but they demand sustained compliance. Surgical solutions are one-time and irreversible — which is both their strength and their risk.

“I lost a little bit too much weight at one point, so I put back on a stone.” — James Argent, speaking to The Independent (The Independent)

“They said, ‘We’re going to lose you if you don’t change,'” — James Argent’s family, as recalled on Lorraine (Lorraine / ITV)

Summary

James Argent’s 14-stone loss is among the most dramatic celebrity transformations in recent memory. It happened through a surgical path that few are willing to take, but that offers a physiological reset rather than a pharmacological crutch. For anyone in the UK considering weight loss options — be it the dietary approach of incorporating healthy fats, or a more extreme intervention like the celebrity surgical trend — the choice is clear: you can alter your stomach, or you can alter your chemistry. James Argent altered both, and the result is a life permanently changed.

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