Randy Jackson is a musician, record producer, and an original fan-favorite judge from the hit TV show American Idol, which first aired in 2002 alongside co-stars Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Randall Darius Jackson is not related to anyone in Michael Jackson’s family.
Randy Jackson and two of his children attend the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation’s 30th Anniversary, A Time For Heroes Family Festival at Smashbox Studios on October 28, 2018, in Culver City, California (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)
He stayed on for 12 seasons and gave a fair share of “It’s a no from me, dawg” and other catchphrases. Not more than a year after the show aired, Randy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, usually caused by obesity and an inactive lifestyle.
He reached his highest weight at 358 pounds before making drastic health changes for his body and well-being.
Randy Jackson’s Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis: A Life-Changing Moment
Jackson states that he went to the dentist, who told him his gums looked “abnormal” and that he could potentially have elevated blood sugar. His dentist encouraged him to get it checked out by a doctor.
More than a month later, then-45-year-old Jackson had to go to the Emergency Room due to “flu-like symptoms” of feeling thirsty, sweaty, and tired.
He was notified that his blood sugar was above 500! Normal blood sugar ranges from 70-99mg/dL.
Despite sharing the same last name, Randy Jackson is not related to Michael Jackson; Randy is known for his role as a musician and American Idol judge, while Michael was the King of Pop (Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN)
He admits that diabetes runs in his family (an inheritable disease). The celebrity judge also says that his Southern diet mainly consisted of fried foods, grits, bread pudding, and more, so he wasn’t surprised to hear about his new diagnosis.
Randy discusses it further in his book Body With Soul: Slash Sugar, Cut Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on Your Best Health Ever, which you can buy on Amazon.
How Randy Jackson Educated Himself About Type 2 Diabetes
One of the first things he did was read about type 2 diabetes and the potential risk factors. He learned what most people with this disease find out, which is that it can possibly lead to some of the following:
– Heart disease
– Blindness
– Nerve and organ damage
He also learned that weight and diet play crucial roles in maintaining your health with diabetes.
Jackson wrote in his 2008 book, Body With Soul, “It’s a curse to be saddled with a disease that’s life-threatening and that you can’t completely get rid of, though you can certainly manage it. But it’s a blessing to get that huge wake-up call. After that day in the ER, when my doctor burst the bubble I’d been living in, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. Right then and there, I began my journey toward better health.”
Battling Emotional Eating: Randy Jackson’s Personal Struggles
Jackson describes his relationship with food as “emotional eating” and took steps to understand the underlying “behavioral psychology” of his eating habits.
He says eating healthy in his industry was hard because everyone congregated around unhealthy foods after the show or to celebrate.
The producer said, “After the show, everybody hangs out and eats and drinks. There are all kinds of sandwiches plus chips, cheeses, cookies, cakes, candy, beer, wine.”
Randy Jackson, who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after a blood sugar reading of over 500, made significant lifestyle changes to manage his condition, leading to a remarkable weight loss and improved health (Credit: WENN)
On The Ellen Degeneres Show, Jackson stated, “I had a food divorce, is what I usually say. I had to let it all go and start over.”
Unfortunately, Jackson admits that contestants from American Idol commented about his body, calling him fat after Jackson gave them feedback about their singing.
He says this contributed to his desire to get healthy, but we know it must have hurt to hear those things being said.
Additionally, in an episode of Bulletproof Radio, Jackson stated, “I went through every diet known to man. I was diagnosed, unfortunately, with type 2 diabetes because I was living a very horrible, sedentary lifestyle. I just wasn’t motivated to work out. I just buried myself into my work. As we know, it’s a bit behavioral, isn’t it? Psychologically, because it’s what you think and maybe I was depressed and eating comes from an emotional standpoint. Eat because I’m sad. Eat because I’m happy. Eat because I’m depressed. Eat because I have no time. Every emotion you can imagine, you reach for something.”
The Weight Loss Journey: Randy Jackson’s Fight for Better Health
Jackson got gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and lost over 100 pounds. During an interview with People in May 2022, he described the surgery as “a great jump starter” for weight loss, enabling rapid results.
Jackson said, “You lose a bunch of weight really fast.” However, he acknowledged that maintaining weight loss can be challenging, saying, “But maintaining’s another thing because you get there and your mind tells you, ‘Okay, phew. I’m here now. I can start to party and bring out the cheesecakes.’”
Unfortunately, he gained it all back and decided to work hard to get his weight back down.
Randy Jackson, pictured before his weight loss journey, made significant health changes after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, later shedding over 100 pounds to improve his well-being and manage his condition (Credit: Jody Cortes / WENN)
Type 2 diabetes is closely tied to obesity and it’s a lot harder for individuals with this diagnosis to lose weight.
According to Obesity Action, “the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is three to seven times higher in those who are affected by obesity than in normal-weight adults, and is 20 times more likely in those with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35kg/m.”
In an interview with TODAY, Jackson says, “I started on this health regimen many years ago while I was on ‘(American) Idol; I think (it was the) second season. Lost a ton of weight, started gaining it back, then went on my own journey to try and discover ‘How do I keep it off? What do I do?'”
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With the weight creeping back after surgery, he decided to change his eating and exercise habits for good.
In the same interview with People, Jackson said, “I hate the word diet. I don’t use that anymore. Anybody that’s lost weight, you lose it and then you start eating and drinking more and it all starts coming back. That’s what started happening to me. I was like, ‘No, I’m not going to spend my life going through this.”
Randy Jackson’s Balanced Approach to Diet and Exercise
After experimenting with different diets and weight loss techniques, Jackson’s new and improved approach to food has been very level-headed and balanced. Plus, he lost over 100 pounds!
One thing he discovered that works for him is an airplane meal. He says the portions they give you on airplanes are perfect for someone watching their weight.
It’s really nothing new in the world of dieting since most people use pre-portioned containers in meal prepping and planning, but Jackson did coin the catchy term “airplane meal” as a diet fad.
“American Idol” judges musician Keith Urban, actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, musician Harry Connick Jr., host Ryan Seacrest, and musician Randy Jackson arrive at Fox’s “American Idol Xlll” Finalists Party at Fig and Olive on February 20, 2014, in West Hollywood, California (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN)
Jackson shared, “Eating’s all emotional. I needed to really get it together so I could keep it off.”
To stay healthy, he follows a diet consisting of five clean meals per day, including “fish, some sort of veggie, and maybe a little handful of rice or potato.” For snacks, he opts for items such as bananas, apples, cheese, protein bars, and shakes.
Despite his healthy eating habits, Jackson also allows room for sweets in moderation, as he understands the importance of balance in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell attend The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Ceremony for Kelly Clarkson on September 19, 2022, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
He explained, “If I really feel like I need to have a piece of candy, I have a small piece so that in my mind, I’m not saying, ‘No, no, no,’ saying, “The more you deny yourself, the more you’re going to go on a bender and have 18 candy bars without stopping at some point.”
In addition to his healthy eating habits, Jackson prioritizes physical fitness to keep his body strong. As far as exercise goes, Jackson has a treadmill next to his bed so that he starts every day with 30-45 minutes of cardio, and he also incorporates yoga into his routine.
He starts each day with a Pilates session, which he credits with making him feel healthier in his 60s than he did in his 20s or 30s.
Randy Jackson Today: Maintaining Health and Pursuing New Ventures
It’s been about 20 years, and Randy has managed to keep the weight off while still working to maintain his overall health. In 2020, he rejoined the rock group Journey. He is also co-host and bandleader for another TV show called “Name That Tune.”
Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell, Kelly Clarkson, and Paula Abdul attend The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Ceremony for Kelly Clarkson on September 19, 2022, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
He also founded the wellness brand Unify Health Labs, which provides weight loss and digestion supplements, and the Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation.
Jackson wrote in a blog post on the Unify Health Labs website that his status as a celebrity provided him with access to health specialists that may not be readily available to others.
He said, “I was able to talk with top health experts: physicians, nutritionists, fitness experts, biologists, and more. They helped me a lot on my journey. And I wanted to share this expertise and information with as many people as possible.”
Randy Jackson’s remarkable weight loss transformation is evident in these photos, as he shifts from a fuller figure in a gray suit to a slimmer look, showcasing his healthier lifestyle and confidence in a more casual, fitted outfit (Credit: WENN / Sheri Determan)
He is very open about his journey with weight loss, diabetes, and exercise and the comments he’s received on his body, good and bad.
Jackson told People, “I think if I had not figured it all out, I would’ve gained at least half, if not more, of that weight back. And I’m proud to know that we did something that helps me, that helps everyone else, and takes the guesswork out of it for everybody.”
Men often get overlooked in fashion, but in January 2013, there was no ignoring the effervescent Randy Jackson!
Randy Jackson stands out in an all-black ensemble accessorized with statement jewelry and embellished loafers at the Fox All-Star Party during the 2013 TCA Winter Press Tour at The Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa on January 8, 2013, in Pasadena, California (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN)
He may have been clad in all-black, but the lone original “American Idol” judge still stood out at the 2013 TCA Winter Press Tour, thanks to his unmissable flower-embellished oxfords!
We can only wish our men had this much swagger. Check out Randy Jackson’s flower-detailed oxfords up close, which drew our eyes straight to his feet:
Randy Jackson wears leather Prada oxfords covered in flower appliqués (Credit: Nikki Nelson / WENN)
Randy Jackson was wearing the following Prada flower appliqué Spazzolato leather oxfords.
Prada Flower-Applique Spazzolato Oxfords, $1,350
By the way, these oxfords are men’s version of the Prada flower-detailed Mary Janes we spotted on Jessica Chastain. So, if you have a man who loves shoes like you, this is a hot his-and-hers look you can rock!