At 55, Matt Damon just pulled off something most people would consider impossible: he got back to his high school weight. The secret? Dropping gluten and training like his life depended on it. Which, for a Christopher Nolan film, it kind of did.

How Cutting Gluten Changed Everything

Appearing on the New Heights podcast this Wednesday with hosts Jason and Travis Kelce, Damon explained the transformation he underwent for "The Odyssey." Nolan wanted him "lean but strong," which is apparently director-speak for "make yourself suffer a bit."

"I was in really good shape. I lost a lot of weight," Damon told the Kelce brothers. The approach was pretty straightforward, if not exactly fun: work with a trainer and follow a strict diet plan.

The game-changer? "Literally like stopped eating, just because of this other thing I did with my doctor, stopped eating gluten," he said.

The results were dramatic. "I used to walk around between 185 and 200. I did that whole movie at 167. And I haven't been that light since high school."

Training Like an Athlete

Beyond the dietary changes, Damon's fitness routine became completely regimented. He compared it to how professional athletes like the Kelce brothers prepare for football season.

"It's like just part of your day. It's part of your job, right? And it's like yeah, you get really routinized about it and really kind of build your day around all that stuff," Damon explained.

When you're working with Christopher Nolan on an epic like "The Odyssey," getting in shape isn't just vanity. It's literally part of the job description.

The Pharmaceutical Alternative

While Damon took the intense training and dietary restriction route, the pharmaceutical industry has been offering some compelling alternatives for weight loss.

Earlier this month, Novo Nordisk (NVO) launched the Wegovy pill, which received approval in December 2025. The results from clinical trials were impressive: patients lost an average of 17% of their body weight when combined with diet and exercise, compared to just 3% for those on a placebo.

Even patients who didn't fully stick to the regimen still saw significant results, losing 14% of their body weight versus 2% for the placebo group.

Last year, Eli Lilly and Co (LLY) reported Phase 3 ATTAIN-1 trial results for oral orforglipron, showing all three tested doses reduced body weight significantly at 72 weeks. Participants on the highest dose lost an average of 27.3 pounds, or 12.4% of their body weight.

So whether you're preparing for a Christopher Nolan epic or just trying to get healthier, there are more options than ever. Though Damon's approach probably comes with better stories to tell at parties.