Health
Jelly Roll’s wife says weight-loss drug sent her into ‘worst suicidal depression’
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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Bunnie XO, the wife of country singer Jelly Roll, is discussing how a weight-loss medication may have led to her experiencing a “dark” depression.
During an episode of her podcast “Dumb Blonde,” Bunnie, whose real name is Alyssa DeFord, revealed that she had been taking a new drug by Lilly called retatrutide (reta), which is currently in late-stage trials and not approved by the FDA.
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Bunnie, 45, confirmed that she received her dose from a “reputable wellness center” in Nashville, and felt sick within the first week. Within two weeks, she noticed she looked and felt slimmer. In the fourth week, she increased her dose by one unit, which is when she noticed the “mental numbness.”
“I literally got sent into the worst suicidal depression that I’ve had since 2020,” she said. “I’m talking like it scared me so bad. I didn’t think I was going to make it through the two weeks. Like I was praying to God.”
Bunnie XO, the wife of country singer Jelly Roll, is discussing how a weight-loss medication may have led to her experiencing a “dark” depression. (Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images)
The podcaster shared how she had “no emotion” and couldn’t listen to music that would typically “bring me joy.”
“You could see like my eyes were black,” she said. “I just drove in silence because I just couldn’t handle anything. It was either overstimulating or it was to the point where it just stole my joy. I had no joy, like nothing to live for. It was so dark.”
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After 20 days off the drug, Bunnie reported that her joy is “finally” returning, calling the experience a “battle.”
“My story is not what’s going to happen to you,” she shared with her listeners. “There’s so many people who are taking reta and love it and all that. But something happened with me.”
“My story is not what’s going to happen to you,” Bunnie XO shared with her listeners. “There’s so many people who are taking Reta and love it and all that. But something happened with me.” (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
Indiana-based drug-maker Lilly confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital that retatrutide is an “investigational molecule that is legally available only to participants in Lilly’s clinical trials.”
“No one should consider taking anything claiming to be retatrutide outside of a Lilly-sponsored clinical trial,” the spokesperson wrote. “This was not a Lilly product, and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of fake medicines.”
“This was not a Lilly product and the company continues to warn the public about the potential dangers of fake medicines.”
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel reacted in an interview with Fox News Digital, warning that retatrutide should not be taken while it has still not received FDA approval unless it is part of a clinical trial.
“This drug is new — known as a triple agonist (GLP-1, GIP and glucagon receptor agonist),” he said. “[It] has been linked potentially to depression and suicidal thoughts, as have the GLP-1 drugs, where some studies have shown increased psychiatric risks, so there is a potential link here.”
What is retatrutide?
The drug has received the nickname “GLP-3” because it targets the three hormones, which experts suggest could lead to more substantial weight loss.
Lilly announced results from its phase 3 trial TRIUMPH-4 in December, which tested retatrutide’s effect on weight loss and other health conditions.
“GLP-3s” are positioned to “approach bariatric surgery level outcomes,” although it doesn’t come without risks, one expert said. (iStock)
Participants with obesity and knee arthritis who took a 12-mg dose of retatrutide saw an average weight loss of 71.8 lbs (28.7%) at 68 weeks.
“We believe retatrutide could become an important option for patients with significant weight loss needs and certain complications, including knee osteoarthritis,” a Lilly spokesperson said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Seven additional phase 3 trials for retatrutide are expected to wrap up in 2026. The drug could see FDA approval in 2027, according to GoodRx.
STUDY REVEALS HOW RAPIDLY WEIGHT COMES BACK AFTER QUITTING OBESITY MEDICATIONS
Despite limited data availability on the drug, the medication could also be applied to treat other conditions like type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, cardiovascular risk reduction and metabolic dysfunction, according to GoodRx and other experts.
Siegel confirmed that retatrutide’s side effects can be similar to other GLP-1s, including gastrointestinal symptoms and other rare reactions like pancreatitis, gallstones and heart arrhythmia.
Retatrutide could lead to more substantial weight loss for some patients, according to experts. (iStock)
Philip Rabito, M.D., a specialist in endocrinology, weight loss and wellness in New York City, shared in a previous interview with Fox News Digital that this new class of weight-loss drugs is positioned to “approach bariatric surgery level outcomes” — although it doesn’t come without risks.
“The novel glucagon‑agonist component introduces less‑understood long‑term safety considerations, so it is imperative that patients are followed closely by healthcare professionals experienced with this class of medicines, with cautious, stepwise use, despite the impressive efficacy,” he cautioned.
The mental health connection
The potential link between mental health symptoms and weight-loss drugs is most likely due to the impact on the brain’s reward system, according to Siegel.
“Dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine affect mood and appetite, reduce cravings and can have a positive effect on mood, but also can be negative,” he said. “Somewhat unpredictable.”
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Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight-loss specialist in New York and New Jersey, noted that any presentation of significant depressive symptoms, particularly those including “psychotic features and suicidal ideation,” requires a full clinical evaluation.
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“It is essential to understand the patient’s complete medical and psychiatric history, including other medical conditions, precise weight change dynamics, concomitant medications and psychosocial stressors,” he said. “Major depressive episodes are multifactorial — attributing them to a single agent without this context is premature.”
Patients should be screened for mental health complications before taking weight-loss medication, experts suggest. (iStock)
Any individual experiencing these symptoms should “seek immediate professional help,” Balazs said.
“We are still learning about the psychiatric effects of these medications, even the ones that have already been approved,” he added.
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Bunnie’s age would typically place her in the perimenopausal stage, which can include “significant fluctuations” in reproductive hormones like estrogen, Balazs noted.
“Estrogen has well-documented neuroprotective and mood-stabilizing effects,” he said. “Its decline can render the brain more vulnerable to stress and dysregulation, potentially precipitating or exacerbating depressive episodes.”
Hormonal changes can impact mood when on a GLP-1 drug, according to experts. (iStock)
Obesity can also cause hormone shifts and inflammation that can interfere with normal brain function, sometimes affecting mood and emotional balance, the expert noted.
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Balazs stressed that experts should be “vigilant” in monitoring symptoms of people taking these medications.
“Until a protocol is established, patients outside clinical trials should not inject these medications,” he cautioned. “Dose and dose-related responses can change the whole experience.”
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Eating processed meat like ham, sausage and bacon may be linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, according to new research.
While health organizations have already confirmed that processed meat can contribute to colon cancer, this study looked closer at cancers in the upper digestive tract, where the link has historically been less clear.
To understand these connections, researchers from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), one of the world’s largest long-term nutrition and cancer cohorts, tracked the health and diets of 450,112 people across Europe for an average of 14 years.
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The study group included 131,426 men and 318,686 women, according to the study’s press release.
During the follow-up period, 876 people developed stomach cancer and 215 people developed esophageal adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
For female participants, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk of developing the disease. (iStock)
Researchers tracked where the stomach cancers grew, separating them into the upper part of the stomach near the throat and the lower part of the stomach.
The researchers also sorted the tumors into two categories based on how the cancer cells appeared under a microscope: intestinal, which forms more organized structures, and diffuse, in which the cells are more scattered throughout the tissue.
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After adjusting for other lifestyle factors, the researchers found that for every extra 30 grams of processed meat a person ate per day, their overall risk of stomach cancer went up by 9%. Eating that same extra 30 grams a day was also linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
A standard single slice of regular deli-sliced ham or lunch meat averages around 28 grams, according to USDA data and nutritional tracking databases.
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken and turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach. (iStock)
An extra 20 grams of white meat, such as chicken or turkey, was linked to a 12% higher risk of cancer in the main body of the stomach, the researchers noted.
The study also revealed differences between men and women. For male participants, only processed meat showed a clear, statistically significant link to a higher risk of stomach cancer. For female participants, however, eating both processed meat and white meat was linked to an increased risk.
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These findings align with global health benchmarks, particularly those established by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer.
The agency has long classified processed meat as a known human carcinogen, primarily due to its strong, well-documented links to colorectal cancer.
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However, health organizations have also consistently pointed to a potential, yet less definitive, relationship between these meats and cancers of the stomach.
Eating 30 grams of processed meat a day, or the equivalent to one slice of ham, was linked to a 13% higher risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. (iStock)
Further scientific investigation is needed to confirm the findings and to account for other underlying risk factors, such as certain stomach infections, which could interact with dietary habits.
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A key limitation of the study is its reliance on self-reported diets, which can sometimes lead to inaccuracies in how participants recall their meat consumption over time, the researchers noted.
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The findings were published in the International Journal of Cancer.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers requesting comment.
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Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.
The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
CANCER SURVIVORS MAY SEE SURPRISING BENEFITS FROM ONE SPECIFIC EXERCISE, STUDY SAYS
The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.
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Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.
The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.
The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.
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“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.
“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”
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The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).
The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.
Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted.
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“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”
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Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.
The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
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