Fat Joe caught attention at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday evening, where the 55-year-old rapper revealed his dramatically slimmer frame after shedding 250 pounds. He joined actor Diego Boneta on the CIBO red carpet for the Killing Castro afterparty.
(Photo by Robert Okine/Getty Images)Previously weighing up to 470 pounds, Joe, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, appeared fit and confident in black pants paired with a white cardigan sweater.
The Turning Point in Fat Joeโs Weight Loss Journey
(Photo by Robert Okine/Getty Images)Joeโs commitment to a healthier lifestyle was sparked by the sudden loss of his best friend, fellow rapper Big Pun, who died of a heart attack in his 20s.
(Photo by Robert Okine/Getty Images)โI went to his funeral and I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge. Like, I seen me,โ Joe told Menโs Health in 2023. โAnd Iโm looking at his little daughter. She was the same age as my daughter. I said, โYou gotta lose weight; otherwise you outta here.โโ
(Photo by Robert Okine/Getty Images)The loss pushed Joe into a period of depression.
โThatโs what depression was like to me,โ he explained.
โWhen youโre fighting yourself, there isnโt a wall high enough that you can build. There isnโt a place you can go to where you get away from it, because youโre fighting your mind.โ
How Fat Joe Transformed His Habits
(Photo by Robert Okine/Getty Images)Joe transformed his health by changing his diet and lifestyle, emphasizing portion control and cutting back on carbs.
โWe just try to eat everything with the least carbs as possible,โ he told Us Weekly last year. โSo we try to stay away from the bread, the pasta, the rice. Thatโs the smartest way to eat.โ
(Photo by Terence Rushin/Getty Images)He added that moderation is key. โLike this morning, I ate breakfast, I had this toast. I cut the corner off, ate it and kept it moving. Normally I wouldโve ate the whole thing. But you know, thatโs what we do. We cut carbs and try to be smarter.โ
Joe also revealed that he takes Ozempic for diabetes, which helps him stay disciplined. โOzempic says you may only have two pieces of your favorite stuff,โ he joked.
Why Heโll Always Be Fat Joe
GettyFans have often wondered if Fat Joe will change his name after his dramatic weight loss.
Despite his dramatic transformation, the rapper has no intention of changing the name that made him a household figure. Joe shared that his wife, Lorena Cartagena, reminds him that โFat Joeโ will always be the name fans and family know and love.
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