Inside Ryan Seacrest’s lifelong body battle after TV star, 50, startles fans with ‘frail’ appearance

Ryan Seacrest startled fans this week as he appeared ‘frail’ and ‘gaunt’ in selfies shared to social media.

The beloved TV personality, 50, looked noticeably leaner in the new photos, with his Instagram followers calling him ‘too thin’ and encouraging him to gain weight.

The dramatic transformation comes amid reports that Seacrest is locked into a ‘new workout routine’ just months after he admitted to ‘over-exercising’ and dieting ahead of his dreaded 50th birthday.

Seacrest has been open about his dedication to staying in top Hollywood shape since landing his career-making American Idol gig back in 2002.

But the star’s obsession with body image dates back to childhood.

Seacrest previously revealed that he was ‘overweight’ as a kid and that he ‘will always see that little boy when [he looks] in the mirror’ no matter how fit he gets.

And now with growing fan concern for Seacrest’s shrinking appearance, DailyMail.com is taking a look at the star’s lifelong body battle.

Ryan Seacrest startled fans this week as he appeared ‘frail’ and ‘gaunt’ in selfies shared to social media 

The beloved TV personality, 50, looked noticeably leaner in the new photos, with his Instagram followers calling him ‘too thin’ and encouraging him to gain weight 

Childhood struggles with weight 

Seacrest first revealed back in 2006 that he struggled with being ‘overweight’ as a child.

At just 13-years-old, the Georgia native said he ballooned to 180 pounds due to poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

‘I was overweight because I used to come home and eat a cookie sheet of nachos and watch Oprah every day of my life,’ he told fans at the time.

Seacrest first revealed back in 2006 that he struggled with being ‘overweight’ as a child 

He has also shared stories about swimming with his T-shirt on and shopping in the plus-size section of a retail store.

‘I also remember at times being teased about it and because of that it’s still in my brain,’ he previously said.

‘I never want to feel that way again, and that motivates me to strive hard for balance without cutting anything that I truly enjoy, but while also knowing I can’t have it all the time.’

In 2022, Seacrest confessed that he is still affected by the teasing he faced about his weight as a kid.

‘I was teased for it, and I will always see that little boy when I look in the mirror,’ he said on a 2022 episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan.

In 2022, Seacrest confessed that he is still affected by the teasing he faced about his weight as a kid 

‘I cannot get past it, I’ve talked to our experts about it, but for some reason, I just cannot see that guy.’

As a result, Seacrest spends ‘a great deal of time fixating on what [he’s] eating and what [he’s] not eating and when [he’s] eating and how much [he’s] eating and how many times of day [he’s] eating,’ according to his former Live co-host Kelly Ripa.

She added at the time: ‘It makes it so much more important and then you feel bad and then you go into a shame spiral and then you make yourself hungry for foods that are bad for you.’

A history of strict dieting 

Seacrest’s ‘fixation’ with food has led to him trying out various diets — as well as many health fads — over the years.

For the most part, the star isn’t much of a meat eater — even previously calling describing himself as ‘conveniently vegan’ — and he often stays away from carbs and sugar.

He also previously revealed that he drinks black coffee every morning.

In 2014, it was alleged that Seacrest’s eating habits had taken a bizarre turn due to an ‘obsession’ with green juice.

RadarOnline alleged that Seacrest would have an assistant on hand with a selection of chilled nutrient packed macrobiotic juice at all times.

Seacrest’s ‘fixation’ with food has led to him trying out various diets — as well as many health fads — over the years

A source told the outlet at the time that Seacrest’s ‘bizarre dieting [was] going a little too far.’

In 2019, Seacrest revealed to Men’s Health that his fridges on set of American Idol and other TV projects are now filled with raw vegetables, bottles of water, vegetable wraps and almonds.

He told the outlet that when he gets the ‘munchies,’ he will treat himself to a spoonful of almond butter with a spoonful of ‘natural fruit spread.’

In 2021, Seacrest shared that he was trying out intermittent fasting, which is ‘an eating plan that switches between fasting and eating on a regular schedule,’ according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Seacrest told PEOPLE that he would skip breakfast while intermittent fasting, meaning he wouldn’t eat any actual food until lunchtime.

‘I actually intermittent fast, so I don’t eat breakfast right now. I start my day with tea first and then I have coffee, and then my first meal is lunch, which I find actually helps with my energy level,’ he explained.

In the same interview, Seacrest said he had ‘cut out sugar for the most part’ from his diet as well.

Two years later in 2023, Seacrest revealed he was following the Mediterranean diet, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, ’emphasizes plant-based foods and healthy fats.’

He told PEOPLE that he eats plenty of ‘vegetables, fish and salads’ and that following the Mediterranean diet has been ‘fun’ for him to follow.

For the most part, the star isn’t much of a meat eater — even previously calling describing himself as ‘conveniently vegan’ — and he often stays away from carbs and sugar

He also previously revealed that he drinks ‘black coffee’ every morning

‘It speaks to me because it’s fun,’ Seacrest said. ‘You look forward to it. It’s fresh things, it’s simple cooking. 

‘It’s really just eating smart foods — simple — but you like it.’ 

To help with ‘weight loss’ and ‘inflammation,’ Seacrest said that he has ‘a shot of olive oil in the morning before my coffee every day.’

While the Mediterranean diet may have strict parameters, Seacrest insisted at the time that he wasn’t totally restricting himself.

‘I certainly am not that hard on myself, but I try on a normal basis to stick to the Mediterranean diet,’ he shared.

That same year, Seacrest let GQ in on how he ensures he always has a healthy meal on hand no matter where he is or what he’s doing.

‘One of the keys for me is I pack a lunch box with me each day because I never know where I’m going to be for a meal,’ he explained. ‘So I’ve got something with me to keep me moving and it’s the right stuff. 

In 2023, Seacrest revealed he was following the Mediterranean diet. He told PEOPLE that he eats plenty of ‘vegetables, fish and salads’ and that following the Mediterranean diet has been ‘fun’ for him to follow

Last year, Seacrest told ET that he was ‘eating better’ than before and ‘over-exercising’ in the hopes of turning back the clock

Seacrest said his typical ‘lunch box’ has a ‘a bean burger’ and a ‘very finely-chopped kale salad’ with ‘healthy caesar dressing.’

‘I like vegetable rolls. I like bowls and things you can eat on-the-go—so any type of bowl. I carry a pumpkin protein shake with almond milk with me so I can down that in between things. It’s just stuff that’s convenient,’ he explained.

However, Seacrest appeared to tighten up his diet even more last year as he prepared to turn 50 in December 2024.

He told ET that he was ‘eating better’ than before and ‘over-exercising’ in the hopes of turning back the clock.

‘Over-exercising’

Along with his strict, healthy diet, Seacrest also goes all in when it comes to working out.

‘I love to be active, I love to exercise, I love to work out,’ he told GQ in 2023.

He he tries to ‘exercise every day’ despite his hectic work schedule, which includes hosting American Idol, Wheel of Fortune and a popular LA radio show.

Seacrest frequently showcases his intense workouts on social media.

He utilizes a weighted vest and other special equipment to achieve maximum results — whether he’s at the famous Dogpound gym or working out in hotels while traveling.

In his 2023 sit-down with GQ, Seacrest revealed that he schedules his workouts in advance to ensure he gets them in no matter what.

He told PEOPLE in 2021 that he tries to ‘exercise every day’ despite his hectic work schedule, which includes hosting American Idol, Wheel of Fortune and a popular LA radio show

Seacrest frequently showcases his intense workouts on social media

‘So when I do my schedule for the week or the month, I sit and look at what hour I can take for myself to exercise I find that if I don’t do that for two days, I get out of my case and it’s hard to gear back up,’ he explained.

Seacrest’s workouts consists of weights, cardio and ‘a lot of jumping.’ As for equipment, he said he utilizes two dumbbells and platform boxes for jumping.

‘What I like to do is I’ll take two dumbbells, you know, whatever weight I can manage, and I’ll do a curl and then I’ll put those up over my head. That helps us with my abs and my obliques,’ he shared with GQ.

‘And at my age, you want to try and maintain that tightness as much as possible.’

He continued: ‘In the gym they’ve got these little platform-type boxes, and jumping on those really helps my abs and my core, which feels good around the waistline.’

While Seacrest’s workout routines have always leaned on the intense side, he revealed last year that he had intentionally started ‘over-exercising’ and ‘over-training’ to get in shape for his 50th birthday.

He told ET that he hoped the extra effort would help reverse the aging process and ‘make [himself] feel 29 again.’

‘I feel good because I can’t believe I’m turning 50. I’m doing everything I can to make myself feel like I’m not 50,’ he shared at the time.

As of 2025, a source recently claimed to PageSix that Seacrest had changed up his fitness regimen again 

Seacrest gave a peek at his ‘new workout routine’ via Instagram on Tuesday. The star captured himself performing an arm workout with what appeared to be 10 pound weights in hand. Behind the star was a state of the art squat rack 

Along with his extreme diet and workout regimen, Seacrest, who turned 50 on December 25, 2024, said he was also doing ‘lots of recovery, lots of muscle recovery.’

As of 2025, a source recently claimed to PageSix that Seacrest had changed up his fitness regimen once again.

‘Ryan has recently been doing a new workout routine — working out with a new trainer, Dodd Romero, combined with Pilates and yoga for the first time,’ the insider shared.

‘That’s created a visible change.’

Seacrest gave a peek at his ‘new workout routine’ via Instagram on Monday.

The star captured himself performing an arm workout with what appeared to be 10 pound weights in hand. Behind the star was a state of the art squat rack.

‘Frail’ and ‘gaunt’ at 50

Seacrest put that ‘visible change’ on full display on Monday as he took to Instagram to unveil his leanest physique yet.

He had uploaded a photo dump depicting what his life looks like ‘lately.’

Many of his 6.5 million followers immediately noticed Seacrest looking leaner than ever as he shared a full-body snapshot in a monochrome khaki outfit. 

He also posted close-up images of his face, with his grizzled beard thinly veiling his bony jawline.

‘He looks frail to me. I hope he’s doing ok!’ one worried fan observed, collecting over 500 likes.

The star also shared a glimpse at his weight-incorporated gym routine and one of his meals.

Seacrest put that ‘visible change’ on full display on Monday as he took to Instagram to unveil his leanest physique yet 

‘He looks frail to me. I hope he’s doing ok!’ one worried fan observed, collecting over 500 likes

Many of his 6.5 million followers immediately noticed Seacrest looking leaner than ever

‘Ryan, I respect you love for fitness and eating well… But you’re looking pretty gaunt,’ one person commented

It prompted one person to comment, ‘Ryan, I respect you love for fitness and eating well… But you’re looking pretty gaunt.’

‘Ryan, you’re getting too skinny!’ another said, adding a smiley face and red heart emoji.

One social media user warned, ‘Ryan, I adore you, but… the BIG but…. you are looking too thin. Sometimes being thin can age a person.’

Another person compared him to another celebrity known for his thin stature, adding to the thread: ‘Damn I thought this was Marc Anthony for a sec.’

‘Wow Ryan is looking very thin,’ someone else pointed out plainly.

‘What is going on here?’ a fan demanded to know, adding, ‘Something looks off.’

Seacrest himself has yet to publicly comment on the fan concern.