When you think of Drew Carey, you probably think of the guy with the thick glasses who played the everyman in Cleveland or the energetic host who tells people to "come on down" on The Price Is Right. For years, his weight was a part of the brand. He was the lovable, portly comedian who made self-deprecating jokes about his size. But then, things got serious. Very serious.
It happened in August 2001.
Carey was on the set of The Drew Carey Show, just doing his job, when he started feeling sharp, terrifying pains in his chest. This wasn't just a bit of indigestion or stress from a long day of filming. It was a legitimate medical emergency. He was rushed to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, right near the Warner Bros. lot.
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The 2001 Scare: Not a Heart Attack, But a Close Call
There is a lot of confusion online about whether it was a full-blown heart attack. Technically, doctors found a major blockage in one of his coronary arteries. To fix it, Carey underwent an emergency coronary angioplasty. This is a procedure where they essentially snake a tiny balloon into the artery to open it back up and, in Drew's case, they inserted a stent to keep it that way.
Honestly, he was lucky. Paramedics and quick-acting hospital staff saved him from what could have been a fatal event. He was 43 years old.
You’d think a moment like that—having your chest cracked open metaphorically and a metal tube shoved into your heart—would change everything overnight. But for Drew, it didn't. Not really. He went back to work. He went back to the same habits. He kept the weight on for nearly another decade.
The Real Turning Point in 2010
Fast forward to 2010. Carey is now the host of The Price Is Right. He’s tipping the scales at 262 pounds. His doctor sits him down and doesn't pull any punches. The diagnosis? Type 2 diabetes.
The doctor basically told him, "If you don't do something, your life is going to be shorter."
That hit home. Carey has been very open about the fact that his father and brother both died from heart attacks related to weight and health issues. He realized he was essentially playing Russian roulette with his own life. He was tired of being the "big guy." He was tired of the medication.
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So, he did something radical. He didn't get surgery. He didn't take the "easy" way out with the latest trendy weight-loss shots (this was long before the Ozempic era anyway). He just stopped eating carbs.
How He Actually Lost 80 Pounds
Drew's diet was brutal in its simplicity. He told PEOPLE magazine that he went "no carbs." No bread. No pizza. No crackers. No pasta. No corn. No beans. He lived on egg whites, grilled chicken, fish, and lots of greens.
- The Morning Routine: Usually egg whites or fruit with Greek yogurt.
- The Hydration: He cut out every single liquid except water. No soda, no sweetened tea, no alcohol.
- The Grind: He started doing 45 minutes of cardio religiously. It started on the elliptical and eventually turned into running 10Ks.
He lost 80 pounds in about nine months. His waist size dropped from a 44 to a 34. But the headline-grabbing part? He reversed his Type 2 diabetes. His blood sugar levels stabilized so well that he was able to stop taking his medication.
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What Most People Get Wrong About His Health
People often search for the "Drew Carey heart attack" as if it happened recently. It didn't. That major heart scare was over 20 years ago. The weight loss happened 15 years ago.
What’s impressive isn't that he lost the weight; it’s that he’s kept it off. In 2026, looking back at his journey, he’s still maintaining that leaner frame. He admits he isn't a "maniac" about it anymore—he’ll have a piece of cake at a party—but he doesn't eat the whole cake like he used to.
He’s mentioned in recent interviews that the hardest part wasn't the treadmill. It was the mindset. He had to decide he was "worth it." That’s a heavy thing for a guy who spent his whole career making people laugh at his own expense.
Practical Takeaways From Drew's Journey
If you’re looking at Drew Carey’s story and wondering how to apply it to your own life, here’s the reality:
- Get the Bloodwork Done: Carey didn't change until a doctor showed him the cold, hard numbers. Don't wait for chest pains to find out your cholesterol is through the roof.
- The "No Carb" Kickstart: While long-term total carb elimination is controversial among dietitians, for Drew, it was the "reset" his body needed to shed the initial weight and stabilize his insulin.
- Cardio Consistency: You don't need a fancy gym. He started with 45 minutes of movement. Just move.
- Water is Your Best Friend: Cutting liquid calories (soda and juice) is often the fastest way to see a change in energy levels.
Drew Carey’s "heart attack" wasn't the end of his story; it was a warning shot that he eventually used to rewrite his entire future. He went from a guy who thought he’d die before 60 to a man who says he feels like he’s in his 20s again.
Next Steps for Your Health
Start by scheduling a full metabolic panel with your primary care physician to check your A1C and cholesterol levels. Identifying your "baseline" is the only way to track progress, just like Drew did. If you're struggling with high blood sugar, focus on replacing refined starches with leafy greens and lean proteins for one meal a day to see how your energy responds.