Chris Pratt: I was impotent, fatigued & emotionally depressed at 300 lbs

June 2024 · 3 minute read

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt covers the July issue of Men’s Health UK to promote Jurassic World. He discusses his body makeover again. Are you tired of hearing about this subject yet? I’m not. Journalists love to ask actresses how they shed baby weight, and Pratt doesn’t seem to mind discussing his own weight struggles. Besides, this is a health and fitness magazine, so it comes with the territory. The magazine’s readers want to hear about how he went from 300 pounds to being ripped. Pratt’s not being obnoxious about his bod. We’re not seeing him preening, shirtless and glistening, like Joe Manganiello does in these features.

Pratt recently discussed the myth of the “happy plump man“ and how he associated being overweight with being funny (like one of his idols, Chris Farley). He covers that territory more here. He also elaborates on his previous claims that losing weight gave him more energy. Pratt reveals the seriousness of other health issues he was suffering. Considering how he ate up to 4 cheeseburgers in one sitting, I can see why he felt so awful inside:

Why he was unhappy: “I was impotent, fatigued, emotionally depressed. I had real health issues that were affecting me in a major way. It’s bad for your heart, your skin, your system, your spirit.”

His “happy plump man” complex: “I saw myself in an episode [of Parks and Rec] and in the matter of two moments very close together, I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m getting fat.’ And then almost immediately I did something else and I thought, ‘Holy crap, I’ve never seen myself funnier.’ And I put the two together. I said to the creators that I wanted to get fatter for the role. They loved it. I announced it to the whole cast, and then it became a bit of a game: how fat can I get and how fast can I get that fat. I would eat three or four cheeseburgers at every table read [of a script].”

His turning point: “I’d gone back and forth, lost weight for Moneyball, got fat again, then trimmed down for Zero Dark Thirty, then gained it all back again for Andy. That’s when I saw Zero Dark Thirty and right after walking out I was like: ‘I’m going to get in shape and I’m never going to be fat again.'”

[From Men’s Health]

It makes sense that Pratt would make a final turn in perspective after seeing himself onscreen in ZDT. Marvel added to the pressure by sending a not-so-subtle fat inspector to Pratt’s home to check on his progress. That had to be rough. Even though Pratt wanted to lose the weight, having someone check on him must have been an indignity. Or perhaps he saw it as an added incentive, I don’t know. Pratt holds a rather unique male perspective on a topic that many women can identify with. It would be annoying if he humblebragged, but he’s telling it straight. And Pratt looks good.

Chris Pratt

Photos courtesy of Men’s Health/Patrik Giarrdino, Fame/Flynet & WENN

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