Jaden Smith, son of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, has always been in the public eye. Known for his unique style and open views, Jaden's personal life has often been a topic of discussion. Over the years, he has shared his struggles with body image and health, emphasizing the importance of diet, self-care, and mental well-being.
This article explores Jaden Smith's weight loss journey, including the challenges he faced, his family's intervention, and how he regained his health through improved eating habits and fitness.
The Initial Weight Loss
Jaden Smith has been an advocate for veganism and plant-based lifestyles. His initial decision to adopt this way of eating was motivated by both personal beliefs and environmental concerns. At first, the diet seemed to suit him well, but over time, Jaden’s weight began to drop drastically. “I was losing weight rapidly, and it wasn’t healthy,” Jaden admitted in an interview. “I had a very minimalistic approach to eating, thinking it would help my body."
Jaden's parents, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, became concerned after he lost a significant amount of weight. "So he was wasting away. He just looked drained, he was just depleted, he wasn’t getting the nutrients," said Will. Will added: "He had the dark circles under his eyes, there was even a little grayness to his skin."
While Jaden had good intentions with his dietary choices, the lack of essential fats and proteins led him to become underweight. He said on a previous "Red Table Talk" episode: “I was just eating, like, two meals a day. And maybe one. I was not doing good. I wasn’t looking good, I wasn’t feeling good, I wasn’t sleeping."
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At one point, Jaden’s weight plummeted to about 115 pounds, a figure that was concerning given his height and frame. His preference for vegetarian or vegan foods may not have been the only thing that made him "waste away," as his parents described. The CDC also recommends average adult men should eat between 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day - a target Smith may not have reached if he was eating only one or two meals, as he said.
The Family Intervention
In 2019, the Smith family staged an intervention related to their son's eating patterns. It wasn’t until this specific family intervention in 2019 that Jaden realized the severity of the situation. His family noticed that he was consistently feeling weak, pale, and lacked vitality. His mother, Jada, explained during an episode of Red Table Talk that they had to step in when they realized their son was “wasting away.” Will Smith admitted, “We had to intervene because we noticed he wasn’t eating the way he should have been, and it wasn’t about the vegan diet anymore."
"Will and I had a bit of an intervention with Jaden because he's a vegan now but we realized he wasn't getting enough protein. So he was wasting away," Pinkett Smith said. "He just looked drained. He was depleted, he wasn't getting the nutrients."Smith said Jaden had dark circles under his eyes and looked gray, which concerned his parents.
The intervention was a turning point for Jaden. It wasn’t about shaming him or forcing him to change his beliefs, but about prioritizing his health above all else. The Smith family acknowledged everyone has different relationships with food.
Regaining Health Through Balanced Nutrition
Following the intervention, Jaden set out on a journey to regain his health. He began incorporating both strength training and cardio to build muscle and boost his metabolism. He did this in a way that balanced his vegan diet with the essential nutrients his body needed. To help him with this transition, Jaden’s family guided him to protein shakes, supplements, and a more structured meal plan. “It wasn’t about eating more to gain weight; it was about making smarter choices,” Jaden explained. “My body needed more calories, but they had to be the right kind."
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Jaden said he has started working with a doctor on his health and wellness. "I was able to get my vitamins and supplements," he said. "Protein shakes. … It's like a password that I have to find to my body." He stated, “I’m like, 10 pounds heavier now at this point. I feel like I am keeping up my weight. That was a long way from where I was when I was at Coachella, where I just was like, bones. I thought I was so tight,” he reflected. “I was like, ‘This. I’m swagging on this."
He has switched now to a vegetarian diet. The 21-year-old said he's actually a vegetarian, though he often opts for vegan meals. Vegan diets avoid all types of animal-derived products - not just meat and fish but also dairy products, eggs, and even honey. Vegetarian diets avoid animal flesh but include egg and dairy products.
Dr. Hyman explained that Jaden's nutritional deficiencies were from eating the wrong types of food and his health status can be adjusted by switching up his diet and taking supplements. Specifically, he was told in the episode that gluten and dairy were both "big problems" for him. Also, because Jaden doesn't eat meat, he has vitamin and omega-3 deficiencies.
Addressing Digestive Complications
Rapper Jaden Smith recently spoke about dealing with digestive complications and how it has impacted his weight over the years. In an unusual episode of "Red Table Talk," the family talked candidly about everything from how their stool appears to what foods are best for their delicate digestive systems. The hosts enlisted the help of Dr. Jaffe suggested that people try kiwi to help with constipation, a huge concern for people who struggle with digestive issues.
In this episode, Jaden told Hyman that he had experienced frequent stomach issues and typically eats pancakes for breakfast. Smith has eaten pancakes every morning his entire life and the three agreed that the pancake syrup he uses is loaded with sugar and could be the cause of his discomfort. He admitted, saying that after he eats sugar, the microorganism candida builds up in his stomach.
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Mindful Eating and Fitness Routine
This time, instead of simply focusing on food for sustainability, Jaden added a regular fitness routine to his life. Jaden’s success was also largely due to his dedication to mindful eating. This meant no longer viewing food as merely a means of weight loss or gain but as fuel for his body. Instead of following strict calorie restrictions, he focused on incorporating whole foods and nutrient-dense meals.
Today, Jaden is in a much healthier place, having gained back the weight he lost and now standing at a healthy 140 pounds. Jaden now works out five days a week, rotating between strength training and cardio, focusing on toning his body while continuing to build muscle. “It’s not about what the world thinks I should look like. It’s about feeling good in my own body,” Jaden reflects.
Overcoming Backlash and Finding Balance
Jaden said he was apprehensive about partaking because of some backlash he got for going vegan. "After the last episode, I walk in the street and people are like, 'Oh my god! Are you sick? Can I pick you up? Could I get you some water?' Come up to me like, 'You can have my food, man.,'" he said. The 21-year-old said that people also offered him food and that his reaction was: "I'm here eating too. Like, I'm good.
Smith said he's come a long way since the 2019 "emergency" episode of "Red Table Talk," which occurred after he had adopted a vegan diet and was not getting enough nutrients.
For Jaden, the most profound transformation wasn’t just physical-it was mental. Going through this process helped him realize that true health is not about fitting into a mold or adhering to external standards, but about finding peace with oneself. This newfound clarity and self-acceptance became the foundation of his physical transformation.
Key Takeaways from Jaden Smith's Journey
- Balance Your Diet: Focus on nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body.
- Avoid Extremes: Don’t go to extremes in either direction.
Current Health Status
Jaden is now in a much healthier place, having gained back the weight he lost. Jada Pinkett Smith praised her son for all the work he's done in the gym as well and Smith said he's now a long way from where he was in 2019. The 23-year-old said he was "just like bones" as they showed pictures of him shirtless and looking extremely thin, even though at the time he thought he looked good.
"I'm 10 pounds heavier now at this point and I feel like I'm keeping on my weight. I'm able to put on more muscle." Now, Jaden says he is much better after figuring out the “password” to his body.
Addressing Common Misconceptions about Veganism
It's an old myth that going vegan will result in anemia or malnutrition, but you won't get sick if you take a healthy approach. In fact, new research published in The Journal of Nutrition indicates that vegans are overwhelmingly healthier than the meat-eating population, with high levels of antioxidants which can help lower risk of diseases such as cancer. However, as Jada pointed out, people who are considering going vegan need to consider finding alternative sources of protein and iron to meat.
Vegan diets, however, may result in a B12 deficiency, since this vitamin is usually only found in animal foods, the CDC says. "Fortified breakfast cereals and fortified nutritional yeasts are some of the only sources of vitamin B12 from plants and can be used as dietary sources of vitamin B12 for strict vegetarians and vegans," according to the CDC's B12 fact sheet. A B12 deficiency could cause "tiredness, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss, and megaloblastic anemia," according to the CDC.