John Goodman Reveals Anemia After Major Weight Loss

Actor John Goodman has experienced anemia and persistent sensitivity to cold following significant weight loss and stomach surgery, according to an interview with The New Yorker. The 74-year-old Roseanne star discussed the health effects of his transformation, which followed years of struggles with alcohol and repeated cycles of gaining and losing weight.

Goodman has lost approximately 200 pounds, but the physical changes have brought an unexpected complication. He said the surgery and reduction in body fat coincided with anemia and a lasting feeling of being cold.

"I had an operation on my stomach. But I also turned anemic and lost a layer of fat under my skin, and I'm cold all the time," Goodman explained.

The actor did not identify the specific stomach procedure he underwent. His account highlights the physical effects he experienced during his efforts to maintain a healthier weight.

Goodman's health journey also involved addressing his long-standing alcohol use. He became sober in 2007 at age 55, describing a cycle of drinking, severe hangovers and withdrawal symptoms that eventually pushed him to stop.

Reflecting on his recovery in The New Yorker interview, Goodman described how alcohol had affected his daily life and personal development.

"There's a saying in the rooms: I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. The thing about instant gratification is you don't really care what's going to happen right after it—which always led to bigger hangovers or me getting the shakes, and having to drink to get rid of the shakes, and that vicious cycle," Goodman said.

He also recalled reaching a point when he believed hospitalization was unavoidable and said he wanted to live without relying on substances for enjoyment.

"I was in a position, when I quit, where I had to be hospitalized one way or the other. I just was tired of it, and I wanted to stop. I was delaying my maturation by drinking, and I had a lot of catching up to do, just realizing how selfish it made me.

I was overlooking real life. And it was great to see there was a life where I didn't have to use anything to enjoy it," Goodman said.

After quitting alcohol, Goodman continued to struggle with his weight. He described losing 60 pounds during a single summer only to regain it, repeating a pattern of substantial weight fluctuations before taking further steps to manage his health.

He said his weight had approached 400 pounds and acknowledged that his eating habits remained problematic after he stopped drinking.

"I took steps so I wouldn't have to do that anymore. I was almost four hundred pounds. I was eating alcoholically after I stopped drinking," Goodman said.

In 2016, Goodman told ABC News that dissatisfaction with his appearance had also motivated his weight-loss efforts. He recalled feeling reluctant to look at himself in the mirror while shaving and described that experience as dangerous.

At 74, Goodman incorporates walking his dog and boxing into his physical activity. He explained that his approach to boxing focuses on cardiovascular exercise and learning to work with the training mitts rather than causing damage.