Randy Jackson celebrated his 70th birthday on Tuesday, June 23. While the American Idol judge and musician enters his seventh decade, he has faced several health issues throughout the years.
In recent years, some fans have shared their concern about the American Idol judge's weight loss. After he appeared on the My 4, 2026 episode of American Idol, fans took to social media to circulate their thoughts. "Is Randy Jackson ok?," one person wrote on X. Another person wrote: "Randy Jackson can't even stand up, he's so frail."
While Randy has not shared any recent health issues, he has been open about his weight loss journey, losing 114 pounds, and his type 2 diabetes diagnosis, after weighing more than 350 lbs during his early years of judging the reality singing competition show
"I think if I had not figured it all out, I would've gained at least half, if not more, of that weight back," he told People in May 2022. "And I'm proud to know that we did something that helps me, that helps everyone else, and takes the guesswork out of it for everybody."
So, as he celebrates his 70th year, let's dive into his health issues throughout the years and hear about his health from Randy himself.
© Getty ImagesRandy Jackson's type 2 diabetes diagnosis
In 2000, the American Idol judge was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Randy opened up about his illness in a November 2018 Instagram post.
"Since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in 2000, I've been sharing my story with others every day, but especially on #WorldDiabetesDay," he wrote in a partnership with Colgate toothpaste. "Blessed to share some things I've learned over the past 18 years with others who have diabetes."
And in 2013, Randy shared about learning he had type 2 diabetes on an episode of The Doctors. "It always happens to somebody else, even though it ran in my family, my dad had it," he said on the daytime talk show. "I never thought it would happen to me."
© Getty ImagesHis diagnosis was a "huge wake up call"
The musician detailed his health journey in his 2008 book, Body with Soul. Randy shared that when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, his blood sugar measured at over 500.
"I shouldn’t have been shocked to learn that I had diabetes, but I was. Yes, I was carrying about 350 pounds on my five-foot-eleven frame and both my parents had had the disease, two factors that put you at risk for type 2 diabetes," he wrote.
Randy went to the hospital and his life changed. "After that day in the ER when my doctor burst the bubble I’d been living in, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore," he wrote in Body with Soul. "Right then and there I began my journey toward better health. I had to."
© Getty ImagesRandy's gastric bypass surgery
A year after American Idol premiered, Randy underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003. "For a long time you see me on TV and people have noticed me in the past and I was struggling with my weight, then I finally got it off by using some pretty drastic measures," he opened up to People in January 2020.
After his gastric bypass surgery, Randy lost 114 pounds, which he called a "great jump starter" for his continued weight loss journey.
© Getty ImagesHis health journey continued
The American Idol judge's weight loss journey continued after his surgery. "You lose a bunch of weight really fast, but maintaining's another thing because you get there and your mind tells you, 'Okay, phew. I'm here now. I can start to party and bring out the cheesecakes,'" he told People in May 2022.
But most importantly, Randy opened up about not using the word "diet" to describe his health.
"I don't use that anymore. Anybody that's lost weight, you lose it and then you start eating and drinking more and it all starts coming back," Randy shared. "That's what started happening to me. I was like, 'No, I'm not going to spend my life going through this.'"
He focused on his health and eating healthily while also starting Pilates and spinning to stay in shape.
© ABCRandy understands his gut health
Before gut health was trendy, Randy was learning how it impacts his own health and wellness. In 2019, the musician co-founded the nutrition brand Unify Health Labs, with the goal of helping "people live their healthiest, happiest lives possible."
In January 2020, Jackson told PEOPLE, "The root causes of these certain diseases and trying to get your best health, it all starts in the gut. Gut health is really best health.”
