Cheryl Burke's Weight Loss Journey: The Truth Behind Her Transformation

Former Dancing with the Stars professional Cheryl Burke has found herself at the center of intense public scrutiny following a dramatic physical transformation that has sparked widespread speculation and, unfortunately, harsh criticism. The 41-year-old dancer, who graced the DWTS ballroom for 26 seasons before retiring in 2022, is now speaking out about her 35-pound weight loss, the methods she used to achieve it, and the toll that public judgment has taken on her mental health.

The Reality Behind the Transformation

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine, Burke revealed that while she no longer owns a scale, she estimates she's lost between 30 to 35 pounds in recent months. Her current weight of approximately 109 pounds, down from around 145 pounds, has drawn both admiration and criticism from fans and detractors alike.

"The last time I checked, I was 109. I feel f***ing great; my energy is on another level," Burke told Us Weekly. "That 109 doesn't matter, what matters is how I feel."

The transformation wasn't about achieving a certain aesthetic, Burke insists. "For me, it's all about starting from within first instead of the aesthetic of what I look like from the outside," she explained. "My goal wasn't to lose a certain amount of weight."

Burke's Weight Loss Method: No Ozempic, No Surgery

As social media speculation ran rampant, Burke felt compelled to address the rumors directly. In a candid Instagram video and subsequent interviews, she firmly denied using Ozempic, undergoing plastic surgery, or employing any extreme measures to achieve her weight loss.

"I just want people to know that I'm not sick and I have never gone under the knife for anything," Burke stated emphatically. "I didn't get a brow lift, I didn't get a face transplant. This is my body and this is how I feel best in it today."

The Actual Methods: Clean Eating and Consistent Movement

Burke credits her transformation to two primary lifestyle changes: intermittent fasting and a clean-eating program called Z.E.N., which delivers fresh, portion-controlled meals to her home.

Her daily eating routine includes:

• A morning fruit shake ("more calories than any of my meals")
• Oatmeal with fruit for breakfast
• A snack of pita chips and hummus
• Salad for lunch
• A satisfying dinner of "real food"
• No eating past 6 p.m.

"The food is delicious and it's portion control," she shared with Us Weekly. "I have oatmeal with fruit every morning. I have a snack, pita, chips and hummus. Lunch is normally a salad and then I will have my dinner. It's not diet food, it's real food."

Burke also incorporated regular physical activity, including 2-mile daily walks with her dog and treadmill sessions while editing content for her beauty influencer career. She utilizes the Fitbit app for guided workouts and mindfulness classes.

The Painful Reality of Public Scrutiny

Perhaps more concerning than the weight loss itself is the vitriol Burke has faced online. Her social media comments have been flooded with accusations, body-shaming remarks, and questions about whether she's abandoned her body-positivity advocacy.

"What's hurtful, I think, with seeing all these comments is that it's mainly women attacking women," Burke told PEOPLE. "It's such a shame. Just because I've lost weight aesthetically doesn't mean I don't still represent body positivity."

Multiple outlets reported that fans described her appearance as "jarring" and "unrecognizable" when she returned to Dancing with the Stars as a guest judge for the Halloween episode. Reddit threads filled with speculation about her health and appearance, with some commenters expressing concern while others made harsh judgments.

"These are really mean and cruel messages," Burke said. "These are all assumptions that people have thrown at me, as far as Ozempic, my face. I've always had criticism, but what's shocking is that this is worse than when I gained weight."

A Lifelong Struggle With Body Image

Burke's journey with body image issues didn't begin with her recent weight loss. The professional dancer has been candid about struggling with body dysmorphic disorder throughout her career.

"As a dancer, we were stuck in front of mirrors constantly, it was important to stay at a certain weight, and my dance coaches were really strict," she revealed. "It has always been something that kind of weighed on me."

During her competitive years, Burke admits she was "obsessive" about the scale. "I even used to travel with a scale. That's how obsessive I was. So it's just not healthy," she explained to PEOPLE. "It would really affect my mood on a daily basis if I didn't feel like I was skinny enough."

The constant criticism about her weight during her DWTS tenure led to disordered eating patterns. "I was also not wanting to eat in front of people — that was a trigger for me," Burke shared. "Being called out for being overweight, the last thing you want to do is shove food in your mouth in front of people, especially people who are fit and on the show with you."

Shifting the Focus: Mental Health Over Aesthetics

Now in her 40s, Burke has fundamentally changed her approach to health and wellness. She noticed significant changes in her body, including her metabolism and even experiencing foot cramps when inactive—signals that she needed to adapt her lifestyle differently than in her younger years.

"I've noticed not only my skin changing into mature skin, but also just my metabolism has changed quite a lot," she told PEOPLE. "Obviously, I'm not as active as I was when I was on the show, but it's just been a whole change for me."

The key difference now? Burke no longer fixates on numbers or aesthetics. She's intentionally kept scales out of her home for several years, focusing instead on how she feels mentally and physically.

"Now is it going to stay like this? I fluctuate constantly," she acknowledged. "But for me, it's about putting my own mental health first. Really working on myself, being able to just love myself honestly and then grow a relationship with whatever I saw in the mirror."

Burke's Return to Dancing with the Stars

Despite the online criticism, Burke recently returned to the DWTS ballroom as a guest judge for the Halloween episode in October 2025. The experience brought her full circle after three years away from the show that, as she told Female First, "has shaped me into the woman I am today."

"No matter what was said or whatever, at the end of the day, it really goes back to the fact that this show has brought so much to my life," Burke reflected. "It has taught me to have my own voice."

Her advice to current contestants reflects her newfound perspective: "Don't aim for perfection, because what is that, anyway? Beauty is in the imperfections, for sure, and to always dance as if it's your last dance, because you never know."

A Message to Critics

Burke refuses to let the criticism silence her or force her off social media. "I could easily just mute my comments and all of it, but it doesn't affect me to the point where I have to do that," she told PEOPLE. "I honestly have no interest in really clapping back more than I already have."

In a powerful Instagram video addressing the speculation, Burke called out the "projection" happening in comment sections and stressed the importance of women supporting rather than tearing down other women.

"Think about the mask I was wearing on the show, from head to toe. My skin color was 20 shades darker," Burke explained to Us Weekly, referencing her heavily bronzed competition look. "That was just what I knew; that's the competitive ballroom world. I'm learning and realizing who I am underneath all of the makeup, without the tanning beds, the spray tans, all of the extra stuff that I now call a mask."

The Bigger Conversation About Body Image

Burke's experience highlights a troubling double standard in how society judges women's bodies. Whether gaining or losing weight, women in the public eye face relentless scrutiny and often contradictory expectations.

Her story also underscores the dangers of making assumptions about someone's health or methods based solely on their appearance. The immediate jump to speculation about Ozempic use or cosmetic surgery reflects broader societal issues with how we discuss and judge weight loss.

As Burke continues her journey—one that now includes work as a beauty influencer and occasional DWTS appearances—she's determined to focus on what truly matters: her mental health, her energy levels, and her overall well-being.

"I have so much more energy than I ever have," Burke concluded. And ultimately, that internal transformation matters far more than any number on a scale or any comment on social media.

For anyone struggling with similar body image issues or facing public criticism, Burke's message is clear: prioritize how you feel over how you look, seek support when needed, and remember that your worth isn't determined by your appearance or others' opinions about it.