He’s an open book. Al Roker has been honest about his health issues — but that wasn’t always the case.
In 2002, Roker didn’t initially tell his Today colleagues about his gastric bypass surgery. He admitted to USA Today later that year that he’d told them it was a gall bladder removal because he was “embarrassed,” but, weighing in over 300 pounds, Roker knew he needed to slim down for his health — and his family.
He came to the conclusion while grieving his father’s death and getting ready for wife Deborah Roberts to give birth to their second child, son Nicholas. (The meteorologist also has daughter Courtney with ex-wife Alice Bell.) Roker said he realized he couldn’t give his daughter, Leila, piggyback rides due to knee pain. He’d had his left knee replaced in 2001.
“I felt horrible. I didn’t look good. I didn’t feel good,” he said at the time.
He had the surgery and lost over 100 lbs. More than 20 years later, Roker insisted it was difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
“Every day is a struggle, every day,” the Emmy winner explained exclusively to Us Weekly in April 2022. “Anybody who struggles with their weight knows. Some days you’re up, some days you’re down, but if by the end of the week you’re OK or the same, great. As long as you’re working on it, all’s good.”
For Roker, it’s not about the number on the scale, but about making sure he remains strong.
“I don’t know if I have a goal. I just want to make sure I’m healthy,” he continued.
Unfortunately, his health struggles aren’t just weight-related. He missed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years in November 2022 because he was hospitalized for blood clots.
“So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I’ve been,” he wrote ahead of iconic New York City event. “Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs. After some medical whack-a-molale, I am so fortunate to be getting terrific medical care and on the way to recovery. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers and hope to see you soon.”
During NBC’s broadcast of the 96th annual parade, his fellow morning show co-hosts sent Roker well wishes.
“For the past 27 parades, at this moment, Savannah [Guthrie], we would turn to Al Roker, who is our Today show colleague and our best pal,” Hoda Kotb said. “But as a lot of you have heard, Al’s recovering — he’s recovering very well from a recent medical issue. And we just want to say, we love you Al. Wondering if you’re watching, but we wish you a full recovery.”
Roker left the hospital while the special was broadcasting live. “All right, this is my version of the Thanksgiving Day parade,” he said in a video via Instagram on Thanksgiving Day as he walked down the hospital hallway with IV ports still in each arm. “Getting ready to leave the hospital; time to blow this taco stand. Woohoo!”
One week later, Kotb shared on Today that Roker had been hospitalized again for “some complications” following his initial stay.
Scroll down to see what Roker has said about his health over the years:
"After my father was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001, he was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and I would go in every day," Roker explained to Parade in 2012. "We’d talk and joke, and then one day he got serious and said, 'Look, we both know I’m not going to be here to help you with my grandkids, so you gotta promise you’re going to lose weight.' Seven days later he was gone. A few weeks afterward, [Deborah and I] found out we were pregnant with our son Nicky. I said, 'OK, I’m going to have to do something.'" Dave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock
A nutritionist helped Roker see that he needed to choose the right foods, not just lower his intake. "I think it was fate that she crossed my path at the exact moment that I was ready to hear what she had to say," he told Parade in 2012. For the first time, I realized that I had to change not only the quantity but the quality of food that I was eating. Even more importantly, exercise has finally become a big part of my life." Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
Roker opened up about the moment his doctor told him he had prostate cancer. "When he started, he closed his door and said, 'I always like to have these discussions face to face,'" the broadcast journalist recalled on Today in fall 2020. "And I was like, 'Uh-oh. Well, that doesn't sound good.'" He added: "You hear the word 'cancer' and your mind goes, it's the next level, you know?" However, he didn't want pity. "I don't want people thinking, 'Oh, poor Al,' you know, because I'm gonna be OK," he said. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Roker was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020 and a five-hour surgery was required to remove his prostate. "I went public with this because — it's a simple test, but a lot of guys, you know, we're wimpy. We don't like going to the doctor. And this is an easy to test to do. There's obviously the digital exam," Roker said during a February 2021 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. "The screenings are especially important for African-American men, who are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it," he added. "I just want people to get their prostate checked and especially if you're a man of color. Get your prostate checked. It's not that big a deal and it can make a big deal." Todd Williamson/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“Hard to believe it was 20 years ago today, I wore these size 54 Levi jeans to my #gastricbypass at 340 lbs and here I am today,” the journalist wrote via Instagram in March 2022. Courtesy of Al Roker/Instagram
“I have no idea where I am. All I know is my clothes fit,” the weatherman exclusively told Us during the Broadcasting and Cable Hall Of Fame 30th Anniversary Gala in New York City in April 2022. “That’s kind of the benchmark for me.” MediaPunch/Shutterstock
The host revealed he lost 45 pounds by cutting down on carbs and walking 10,000 steps every day. "Exercise, and not extreme exercise — we’re doing that 30-day walking challenge — that improves, I think, your mental health," he told Today in June 2022. "Combined with a low-carb diet, I’ve lost about 45 pounds in the last several months. I do about 100 grams of carbs a day and I walk." Stephen Lovekin/AWNewYork/Shutterstock
"Stop using the word only. So many of you on our Facebook page were talking about, ‘Oh you only did this, you only did that,’” he said via Today in June 2022. “The fact is, you got it done, you made it happen, and that’s what counts.” He shared a glimpse at one of his regular 30-minute workouts with trainer Don Scott. "Why in the world did I buy a #battlerope ? One more thing for #cyborgdon to torture me with," he joked in an August 2022 Instagram post. Photo Image Press/Shutterstock
The weatherman emphasized that he had mild coronavirus symptoms in September 2022 because he was vaccinated and received his booster shot. "The reason I haven't been part of the Hurricane Ian coverage [is because] I tested positive for COVID. It's not because I'm on vacation or something else is wrong. ... I want you to know that I got boosted last week, and the science works. I don't feel anything really and all is good." AWNewYork/Shutterstock
"Whatever you can get in. Look, can't run a marathon — at least not right now until I get this knee replaced," Roker said in October 2022 via Instagram. "But in the meantime, I can still get out, get some steps, enjoy some natural vitamin D and the beautiful colors as the fall foliage starts to kick in." He added in another post later that month: "Doing what you can when you can. I'm not walking as fast because of this knee, but still getting out there, enjoying it and proud to know that I'm part of a family of folks at our Start Today 30 Day Walking Challenge." Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Roker returned to the hospital after Thanksgiving and shared an update with Today viewers several days later. “It’s been a tough slog, I’m not gonna deny this,” the weatherman said. “It’s been the hardest one yet, and you know I’ve had my share of surgeries.” He continued: “I’m doing physical therapy every day, occupational therapy. I’ve got to just get my strength back. ... I feel good. I feel strong. Every day I feel a little bit better.” Invision/AP/Shutterstock
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