Lifestyle Health Weight Loss Al Roker Tells Critics to 'Back Off' Judging Kelly Clarkson for Using Weight Loss Drugs “There’s too much judgment going on,” the 'Today' show co-host said By Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne Vanessa Etienne is an Emerging Content Writer-Reporter for PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on May 15, 2024 11:16AM EDT Al Roker, Kelly Clarkson. Photo: Santiago Felipe/Getty, Cindy Ord/Getty Al Roker is defending Kelly Clarkson after she said her weight loss is a result of prescription medication. On May 14, the longtime Today show weatherman, 69, had a message to those who are criticizing Clarkson for how she achieved her slimmed-down figure, telling them to “back off.” “There’s too much judgment going on,” the co-host said on the morning show’s third hour. “People, as long as they’re working with their doctors and being healthy about it, people ought to just back off and let them live their lives.” Roker — who underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2002 after years of failed diets and health problems, and was able to drop more than 100 lbs. — said he “took a raft of stuff” back when he had the weight loss surgery. “It’s not easy, whatever you do, so get off people’s backs,” he stressed. Kelly Clarkson Says Weight Loss Is a Result of Prescription Medication: 'Everybody Thinks It's Ozempic — It's Not' Kelly Clarkson. Frazer Harrison/Getty Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Clarkson, 42, revealed during the May 13 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show that she was taking weight loss medication to help with her health journey and has since lost "a lot" of weight. "Mine is a different one than people assume, but I ended up having to do that too because my bloodwork got so bad," the singer said. "My doctor chased me for two years, and I was like, 'No, I'm afraid of it. I already have thyroid problems.” “Everybody thinks it's Ozempic, but it's not,” she added. “It's something else." Clarkson explained how the medication is "something that aids in helping break down the sugar," noting how her body "doesn't do it right." The American Idol winner clarified that she is not on Ozempic — which is one of the FDA-approved prescription medications for people with type 2 diabetes. The medications work in the brain to impact satiety and are the latest Hollywood weight loss trend. Close