- Jelly Roll says Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) played a key role in his weight-loss journey, alongside nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
- Experts say testosterone is a critical metabolic hormone that affects energy levels, body composition, and fat loss.
- TRT is not a weight loss drug, but it may support fat loss and muscle gain when paired with healthy habits in men with low testosterone.
- Hormone testing is essential, as TRT may be beneficial for some men but is not appropriate or necessary for everyone.
Country music star Jelly Roll has been open about his weight-loss journey, sharing that the transformation wasn’t the result of a single quick fix but rather a combination of treatments and sustained lifestyle changes.
Recently, the Grammy-nominated artist also shared that Testosterone Replacement Therapy has played a key role in his progress, alongside improved nutrition, movement, and well-being habits.
“My testosterone level—and I’m cool to talk about this openly—was of a preteen boy,” he shared in an interview with Men’s Health.
As a result of testing, Jelly Roll began Testosterone Replacement Therapy. “I’ll be on testosterone replacement therapy probably for the rest of my life,” he told Men’s Health.
While TRT is not a weight loss drug, experts say testosterone plays a critical role in energy levels, body composition, and metabolic health.
“TRT involves taking testosterone exogenously, or from an external source, to provide the body with what are considered sufficient levels, often between 600- 900 ng/dl,” Shalin Shah, metabolic health expert, founder of The Testosterone Project and CEO of Marius Pharmaceuticals, told Healthine.
TRT comes in multiple forms, from injections and gels to newer liver-safe oral capsule options.
“Testosterone is a crucial metabolic hormone that influences processes throughout the entire body, down to the cellular level,” Shah explained.
“This includes its role in regulating energy levels and combating fatigue, metabolism (including insulin sensitivity), and body composition through improved muscle building and fat lipolysis.”
Typically, men’s testosterone levels decrease as they age.
“When testosterone levels are low, men often experience fatigue, loss of lean muscle, increased fat mass, and metabolic slowdown,” Ryan Honomichl, family nurse practitioner at Gameday Men’s Health, told Healthline.
“By restoring those levels, many men notice improved energy, improved mental cognition, happier mood, better recovery, increased muscle, and a more favorable body composition over time,” he explained.
“It’s important to note that optimization of this hormone is not a shortcut to weight loss; however, it’s the foundation that allows the person to create significantly faster and better results when paired with improved lifestyle changes like nutrition and exercise,” he added.
“Testing is critical, as research shows that 50% of obese men are testosterone deficient, with strong data linearly correlating testosterone levels to waist size,” Shah noted.
“Low testosterone creates a poor metabolic environment in the body, which results in muscle loss, fat storage, and chronic fatigue, all of which make the weight loss journey that much more difficult,” he said.
“All men are potential candidates for TRT, but more specifically, those who are putting time and effort into working out and living a healthy lifestyle and/or experiencing clinical symptoms of low testosterone should absolutely get their numbers checked through a simple blood test.”
If you’re considering TRT to support your weight loss journey, experts say it’s important to set realistic expectations.
“The most realistic benefit of TRT is not rapid weight loss, like many other weight loss pharmaceuticals on the market,” Honomichl said.
“The biggest benefit of TRT is that it can improve body composition and metabolic efficiency over time. With the added benefits of increased motivation, desire, drive, and energy, men find it easier to maintain a healthier lifestyle much more consistently, which will lead to the ability to lose fat and gain muscle much faster.”
Honomichl said one of the biggest misconceptions is that TRT is sometimes thought of as a shortcut. But he said it shouldn’t be used as a stand-alone weight loss solution.
“It alone will not override poor lifestyle habits. It’s simply the foundation for optimizing one’s health, not only physically but mentally and emotionally,” he explained.
Another misconception is that more is always better.
“This is simply not the case,” Honomichl noted. “Reaching supraphysiological testosterone levels is just not necessary. Higher than normal levels will lead to potentially unwanted side effects like: excess estrogen, mood swings, irritability, hair loss, prostate enlargement, and fatigue.”
Jelly Roll mentioned he might be on testosterone replacement therapy for the rest of his life, and though the necessity of long-term treatment isn’t the same for everyone, experts say it’s an important factor to consider.
“Doctors will monitor both lab values and symptoms over time. In some cases, patients can restore healthy hormone levels and discontinue TRT; however, in many instances, treatment is long-term or lifelong,” Shah explained.
Honomichl said the reliance on TRT as a lifelong therapy mainly comes down to the causation of the lower testosterone in the first place.
“In most cases, low testosterone levels are caused by primary hypogonadism or age-related decline where the testes are no longer able to produce adequate amounts of testosterone,” he explained.
“However, in some scenarios, low testosterone can be secondary to obesity, poor sleep, chronic stress, and other factors which, when reversed, can improve natural production.”
Where should you begin if you’re considering TRT?
“Always start with testing,” Shah advised.
“From there, it’s ideal to work with a clinician who specializes in hormone and metabolic health. You’ll want to discuss available options and set clear expectations with your provider.”
He said that if TRT is the right approach, most people feel the difference shortly after beginning treatment.
