Jennifer Love Hewitt, a beloved Hollywood figure since her childhood, has navigated the entertainment industry and motherhood while facing public scrutiny regarding her weight and appearance. From her early roles in Party of Five and I Know What You Did Last Summer to her current role as Maddie Han in 9-1-1, Hewitt has remained a prominent figure in television. This article explores her weight loss journey, her perspective on body image, and her experiences in the ever-changing landscape of Hollywood.
Early Career and Body Image Scrutiny
Hewitt's career began at a young age, and she quickly became a household name. However, with fame came unwanted attention, particularly concerning her body. In 2007, while vacationing in Hawaii, photos of Hewitt surfaced, leading to harsh criticism about her weight. Tabloid journalists made cruel comments, even parodying her hit TV series, I Know What You Did Last Summer, with phrases like "I know what you ate last summer."
Despite the negativity, Hewitt responded with strength, encouraging women to embrace their bodies and feel confident. She later hired Stevie Sant’Angelo as her trainer and lost 14 pounds in 10 weeks in 2008. Hewitt has always emphasized that she doesn’t prioritize her weight and appearance out of proportion. She has expressed sadness about how young girls are unhealthily influenced by unrealistic body standards set for women in the film and TV industry.
Post-Pregnancy Weight Gain and Trolls
Further criticism followed Hewitt after her marriage to Brian Hallisay in 2013, with the birth of her three children. Postpartum weight gain is a common experience, but Hewitt faced relentless scrutiny. The actress has consistently maintained that a woman's beauty should not be judged by her skin, body shape, or weight, and that obsessing over being a size zero or two is problematic.
In September 2025, Hewitt addressed comments about her changing appearance in an Instagram story. "So many people said I look different," she wrote. "I look the same as always." She added, "But seriously let people be filtered or unfiltered. Be good. Be kind."
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The 9-1-1 Journey and Personal Evolution
Joining the cast of 9-1-1 in season 2, Hewitt has found a role she deeply connects with. She describes her character, Maddie, as "maybe the favorite character I’ve ever played," noting that Maddie is the "most flawed person that I’ve ever played."
Reflecting on her career, Hewitt shared, “In February, it will be 37 years for me in this business. This is the longest-running show I’ve ever been on… With TV and the business the way that it is today, I’m really grateful to have an awesome job with great people that I love and I get to learn from every day.”
As she has matured, Hewitt has become more comfortable in her own skin. "I think that as I get older, I’m just more comfortable in myself… I understand that it’s just a view and a person expressing themselves the way that I would want to, but as an artist and just being in the business this long, I think my gratitude is higher than it’s ever been, truly.” She added, “Also, I think I just feel more comfortable in myself as an actor, as a woman, as a professional - and that’s a really nice feeling."
Hewitt's Approach to Health and Fitness
Despite the pressures of Hollywood, Hewitt has developed a balanced approach to health and fitness. Her weight loss journey revolved around eating a healthy and balanced diet and working out regularly. She focuses on a sustainable lifestyle rather than extreme measures.
Diet
Hewitt's diet includes a variety of nutritious foods:
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- Salads: She enjoys a large salad before each meal to increase her fiber intake. Consuming salads before a meal helps regulate energy intake and prevents overeating by keeping us satiated for hours.
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Hewitt prioritizes fresh, seasonal produce, which are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Fish and Eggs: She incorporates fish and eggs into her diet as primary sources of protein. Fish is high in vitamin D, iodine, and omega fatty acids, which have advantageous effects on metabolism.
- Grass-fed Milk: Hewitt prefers grass-fed milk, which is higher in healthy fats and protein.
She also allows herself occasional indulgences, such as baked goods, pizza, and wine.
Exercise
Hewitt's exercise routine focuses on toning and fat-burning:
- Strength Training: She uses functional exercises with weights to build muscle and improve her posture.
- Ankle Weights: Hewitt challenges herself by wearing ankle weights during the day to constantly engage her muscles.
- Dance Workouts: She enjoys Zumba routines, which can burn a significant number of calories.
- Pilates: Hewitt incorporates Pilates to improve strength, flexibility, metabolism, and posture.
Embracing Change and Authenticity
Hewitt has witnessed significant changes in Hollywood throughout her career. “The business has changed so much. It’s crazy for me to be in this business now, seeing where it’s come from. The one thing that I will say that I love, is the 90s is back! I think it’s fun to see so many actors that were kids when I was a kid, doing things and coming back and being amazing."
She also acknowledges the challenges of social media. “I love the ability to promote my own things and to be able to talk directly to the audience… On the other side of it, I think that it can be tough in a way, that I didn’t have when I was starting in the business. People would say bad things about us, but they were written just in magazines… Now, it’s everywhere and I think that can be hard to digest sometimes."
In recent years, Hewitt has emphasized self-acceptance and embracing her natural beauty. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Growing up with you guys over 33 years has been amazing… But the filters of it all can be tricky. You can’t help but want to look better or even perfect to keep up. They are so fun but they also can be really hard because you can forget to feel good about your real face."
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Continued Success and Future Aspirations
As Jennifer Love Hewitt continues her career in Hollywood, she remains grateful for the opportunities she has been given. “Being a mom, even as an actress, I have multiple personalities all inside of you at one time that you can draw from and pull from in a million different ways…Being in my mom era has definitely really shown me and given me some interesting things as an actress, but I feel like I am in a time of feeling fearless."
She looks forward to exploring different roles and having fun with acting. “I feel like I’m ready to just kind of go like - Ooh yeah, let’s try that!”