Carnie Wilson Has Her Lap-Band Removed and Shares How She Lost 40 Lbs. Without Ozempic
The singer says cutting back on sugar and gluten made a huge difference
Since her rise to fame in the ’90s with the Grammy-nominated trio Wilson Phillips, Carnie Wilson has been open about her struggles with weight. Once over 300 pounds, she agreed to have her gastric bypass surgery livestreamed in 1999, proudly sharing details of the 150-pound slim down that followed. But by 2012, she’d put 90 pounds back on and underwent lap-band surgery to further shrink her stomach.
Carnie admits her progress has been up and down ever since. Yet lately, it’s been mostly down. She told Woman’s World she’s shed 40 pounds in recent months without meds just by making key changes to her diet. Then on September 16, she announced she was having her lap-band removed. What prompted the decision? While she hasn’t shared details yet, experts say lap-bands are now being removed at high rates. Here’s what to know about how it can affect your weight-loss journey, plus a look back at how Carnie lost weight naturally.
Woman's World Answers
What is a lap-band, and why do many people remove them?
Short for laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, a lap-band is an adjustable silicone band placed around the top of the stomach. It creates a little pouch that fills up quickly, ideally leading to less food consumption. Unlike most weight-loss surgeries, the procedure is minimally-invasive (done via laparoscope) and fully reversible. Yet it also has a lot of drawbacks. “Some studies suggest up to half of lap-bands are removed within 10 years, and lap-bands account for less than five percent of bariatric procedures done today,” says Jennifer Brown, MD, ABOM, ABFM, of MyObesityTeam.com (a free social network for patients managing obesity).
“There are several reasons why someone with a lap-band may decide to have it removed,” notes Dr. Brown, who has not treated Carnie. “The most common reason for removal is complications from the lap-band, such as chronic heartburn, problems swallowing or persistent nausea.” In more serious cases, the band may slip out of place or erode into the stomach tissue, causing significant pain. And even if none of that happens, Dr. Brown notes that since lap-band results can be disappointing, patients may simply not want an ineffective device to remain in their bodies.
Will Carnie’s lap-band removal lead to weight regain?
Not necessarily. “Some patients pursue lap-band removal with plans to transition to more modern, less invasive approaches including GLP-1 medications,” says weight loss and women’s health expert Stacy Heimburger, MD, founder of SugarFreeMD. Carnie told Woman’s World GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Zepbound aren’t for her, and they are certainly not the only option to maintain or continue toward your weight-loss goals after having a lap-band removed.
Says Dr. Heimburger: “The real key is habit change. Lap-bands, bariatric surgery and GLP-1s all help with hunger and feeling full, but they don’t rewire our brain for long-lasting change.” The real secret, no matter how we get there, is “identifying the reasons we overeat and getting help to change those habits.” Carnie has been doing exactly that.
The key to Carnie Wilson’s recent 40-pound weight loss
Carnie decided to refocus on her health journey after she hit 240 pounds and found herself in “gastrointestinal hell.” Her joints were screaming too. “For me, it was physical,” she told Woman’s World. “My belly was hurting, and I just knew that I wasn’t well, so it was the catalyst. I said, ‘That’s it.’”
She began listening to her body and making changes she’d long resisted: Cutting back on sugar and cutting out gluten, two ingredients that cause inflammation for many of us. “I was tired of being in a chokehold by sugar and gluten, and I gave them up,” she said. “No shots or drugs or anything.” And, just like that, pounds began to disappear.
Why Carnie doesn’t deprive herself
While Carnie confessed she loves the occasional indulgent treats, she decided that cutting certain foods from her diet was the best way to help her lose weight. “I have been maintaining my 40-pound weight loss, and I continue to eat no gluten or sugar,” she shared with Woman’s World.
“The way I eat is like corn tortillas, not flour. I eat brown rice, I eat some rice, I eat plenty of tortilla chips and guac. I don’t deprive myself for s–t. I’m going to eat what I want, but I just don’t eat sugar or gluten and it’s working and I just feel better.”
“I have totally adjusted my eating habits to satisfy my cravings but in a realistic way,” Carnie said. “And it’s a miracle.”
Why Carnie didn’t use Ozempic
Before her recent health journey began, Carnie was told her cholesterol was high and her blood sugar was in the prediabetic range. Her doctor suggested using Ozempic to curb her appetite. But Carnie, who has struggled with severe gastrointestinal trouble most of her life, was too worried about potential GI side effects. They “scared the s–t out of me,” she told People in 2024. So she focused on natural lifestyle tweaks she could stick with long term.
She also makes walking a priority
Carnie also recognizes that exercise is important for her weight loss. “I am trying to increase my exercise and vow to walk at least three times a week,” she told Woman’s World last year. “I think exercise is my answer at this point. I feel so much better than before, and I do believe what we put in our bodies makes an enormous difference.”
What’s her plan for the future? To keep improving her health and inch closer to 170 pounds. “I’ll continue what I’m doing,” she shared in the same interview with People. “Life throws a lot of stuff at you. I try to remain positive.” This time, she says, “I’ve been through all of it, and this is not for anyone except for me and my wellbeing. And I do feel happy and really grateful.” Proof she’s on the right track: “The weight is just shedding off naturally!”
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