Is Ben Napier Sick? The Truth Behind His Weight Loss, Surgery, and Health in 2025
Ben Napier, the 6’6″ woodworker and co-host of HGTV’s hit series Home Town, has built a career around craftsmanship, community, and family life in Laurel, Mississippi. But along with new seasons of the show, viewers also began noticing something else: Ben himself was changing—looking leaner, more energetic, and noticeably healthier than before.
As his transformation became visible on screen, social media filled with questions: What happened to Ben Napier? Why did he lose weight? Is he dealing with a medical condition? The truth is far less dramatic than internet rumors suggest—and far more relatable. Ben’s health journey spans nearly a decade and includes sleep apnea management, lifestyle adjustments, major surgery, and long-term fitness—not a quick fix or secret diet.
Table of Contents
Early Health Concerns: Sleep Apnea, Family History & Early Warnings (2014–2020)
Ben Napier’s health journey did not begin with sudden weight loss or a social media reveal—it started quietly years earlier, rooted in long-term health realities. As early as 2014, Ben was confronted with the importance of preventive health when his father, Bennie Napier, underwent emergency bypass surgery just weeks before turning 60. Ben later shared that the health scare became a generational wake-up call:
“I come from a long line of big men who don’t really discuss their health until it’s an issue. In 2014, one month before his 60th birthday, my father had emergency bypass surgery.”
At the time, Ben was already living with obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that restricts breathing during sleep and increases long-term risks of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Erin Napier later revealed that Ben had been using a CPAP machine for years to manage the condition, long before it became public knowledge.
By early 2018, Ben had begun publicly emphasizing that his health was no longer something he could ignore. Just weeks after he and Erin welcomed their first daughter, Helen, he shared a message that revealed how fatherhood reshaped his priorities:
“As a new father, all I can think about is Helen and being there for her. That’s why my health is the most important thing to me and to the ones I love the most.”
That same week, he reflected more deeply on his motivation in an Instagram post, linking it directly to both family history and responsibility:
“Although I have made efforts to eat healthy and to exercise, it never seemed more real until I held this blue-eyed girl that is equal parts Erin and me in my arms. I never want to leave her side, which means taking care of my heart has to be a major priority.”
These posts marked the moment his journey shifted from awareness to action, driven not by appearance or television life—but by the desire to be present for his family for decades to come:
Major Turning Point: Shoulder Surgery & Recovery (2023–2024)
In March 2023, Ben Napier underwent left shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, a procedure he and Erin shared publicly through social media. Erin Napier confirmed the surgery in a March 30, 2023 Instagram post, noting three procedures were performed:
- Rotator cuff repaired
- Bone spur shaved off
- Cartilage trimmed
The post also showed Ben recovering at home in a sling surrounded by stuffed animals from his daughters, a moment that highlighted the family’s support during his recovery. Ben’s condition was attributed to years of carpentry work, heavy lifting during renovations, and an earlier shoulder strain from physical work and activity.
As part of rehabilitation, Ben transitioned to low‑impact exercise to protect his shoulder while staying active. His routine included walking, rowing, and resistance band therapy, which helped maintain mobility and gradually improve cardiovascular health. Because traditional weight training was paused during this period, he also experienced a natural reduction in overall muscle mass, contributing to a noticeably leaner appearance.
Dramatic Weight Loss: Lifestyle Overhaul (2018–2025)
Although viewers began noticing Ben’s physical transformation on Home Town in late 2022 and throughout 2023, his weight management journey had already been underway for several years. After becoming a father in 2018, Ben publicly acknowledged that health had become a priority. In addition to talking about his motivation, he also began sharing early signs of his physical progress. In August, 2018, he posted on Twitter about being noticed at the gym by Erin’s father, writing:
“Today, walking into the gym, @ErinRNapier’s dad was there. He said, ‘what’s up, slim, how much weight have you lost?’ That’s the true measure of weight loss, when your father‑in‑law notices.” (Twitter
This post indicated that by mid‑2018, he had already started losing weight and building consistency in the gym—well before his transformation became visible to television audiences.
By 2019, Ben had already lost over 55 pounds, marking the first measurable phase of his transformation. His motivation remained tied to improving long-term health rather than appearance, a consistent theme in his public comments.
A major shift came after his March 2023 shoulder surgery and medical warning about high blood pressure. In a 2025 interview on The Tamron Hall Show, Ben revealed that doctors had advised him to begin blood pressure medication, which prompted him to take his long-term health more seriously. He explained that the combination of medical motivation and limited upper‑body movement during surgery recovery accelerated his commitment to health. With weight training temporarily restricted during rehabilitation, Ben emphasized controlled nutrition, reduced portion sizes, and consistent cardiovascular activity. In multiple interviews, including Tamron Hall, he confirmed that he lost a total of 90–95 pounds over three years.
Ben has attributed his progress to long-term habits rather than rapid transformation. His health approach has included:
- Reducing refined sugars and late-night eating
- Increasing daily movement, especially walking and rowing
- Practicing intermittent fasting intermittently
- Maintaining sleep health due to a history of sleep apnea
- Building a structured training routine at a home workshop gym
Throughout his journey, Ben has emphasized sustainability and medical awareness. His transformation followed doctor’s advice to lower blood pressure and manage sleep apnea-related risks, rather than any commercial diet plan or rapid weight loss method.
Is Ben Napier Sick?
There is no evidence that Ben Napier is ill or dealing with any undisclosed medical condition. His recent physical changes, especially weight loss, have led to speculation online, but Ben has clarified in multiple interviews that his transformation is the result of intentional lifestyle changes following medical advice—not illness.
Ben has been transparent about the health issues he has faced: sleep apnea, elevated blood pressure risk, shoulder surgery in 2023, and chronic ankle pain from a past sports injury. These are the only health concerns he has publicly acknowledged. Neither Ben nor Erin have reported any serious illness, and his public appearances in 2024–2025—including interviews on the Tamron Hall Show and continued filming for Home Town—show him active and working.
All credible updates from Ben, Erin, and HGTV confirm that he is healthy, physically active, and focused on long-term fitness and family life, not battling any illness.
Additional Health Challenge: Chronic Ankle Pain (2025)
In mid-2025, Ben also addressed a long-term orthopedic issue unrelated to his shoulder recovery—chronic ankle pain resulting from an injury more than a decade earlier. Erin Napier shared images in a July 2025 Instagram post documenting the history of the injury, including photos of Ben’s ankle from 2011 that showed heavy bruising and swelling following a basketball-related injury. According to Erin, the ankle had never fully healed and developed arthritis over time, limiting Ben’s range of motion and causing persistent pain.
Erin noted in her caption that Ben’s orthopedic specialist recommended a future ankle replacement due to joint deterioration. However, rather than pursue immediate surgery, Ben began non-surgical pain management at Optimal Performance Physical Therapy, where he received StemWave therapy, a non-invasive treatment aimed at reducing inflammation and chronic pain. Erin reported that the therapy reduced Ben’s pain level from “a 12 to a 4,” allowing him to remain active while postponing surgical intervention.
This update highlighted that even as Ben improved his overall health, he continued managing the long-term effects of past injuries. His approach now includes joint maintenance and preventive therapy alongside strength and cardiovascular training.
While Ben’s health progress involved surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term weight management, it also required consistency and mental discipline.
Personal Mindset and Faith During His Health Journey
Alongside medical guidance and physical training, Ben’s long-term health approach also reflected consistency and mental discipline. Between 2020 and 2023, he regularly shared scripture-based messages on his public Twitter account. While he did not link these posts directly to his health progress, they reflected themes of self-control, resilience, and long-term focus, which aligned with the steady approach he took to weight management and recovery.
Examples of passages he shared during this period include:
- Galatians 5:16–18 – Emphasizing disciplined decision-making (February 2, 2021)
- Philippians 4:6–7 – Managing stress and staying steady under pressure (multiple posts 2021–2023)
- 2 Timothy 1:7 – Highlighting self-discipline (shared repeatedly 2022–2023)
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 – Focus on renewal and long-term effort (December 23, 2023)
These posts illustrate the mindset Ben maintained during key stages of his health timeline, including managing sleep apnea, early weight loss efforts beginning in 2018, shoulder surgery recovery in 2023, and long-term lifestyle adjustment. His public messaging remained consistent: focusing on responsibility, structure, and maintaining long-term habits.
Life After Recovery: Stronger Than Ever: Stronger Than Ever: Stronger Than Ever
By 2024 and into 2025, Ben Napier’s health journey had shifted from recovery to long-term maintenance. After losing approximately 90–95 pounds and completing shoulder rehabilitation, he committed to a balanced routine built around work, family, and sustainable health habits.
Ben continues to film Home Town on HGTV and remains active with Scotsman Co., his woodworking business based in Laurel. He also appears in Home Town Takeover and Home Town: Ben’s Workshop, projects that still require physical labor—evidence that his mobility and strength have remained solid following surgery and ongoing ankle therapy.
In interviews, Ben has said he prefers a realistic approach to fitness rather than extreme dieting. His current routine focuses on:
- Regular strength training and cardio at a home gym setup
- Active workdays through carpentry and renovation
- Consistent sleep habits due to a history of sleep apnea
- Ongoing joint care following ankle therapy
- Portion control and reduced processed sugar rather than strict dieting
Erin has also continued to share occasional updates showing Ben building furniture, exercising, and spending time outdoors with their daughters—suggesting that his health focus has become a permanent part of his daily life rather than a temporary transformation.
Final Thoughts
Ben Napier’s health journey reflects a multi-year effort focused on medically guided lifestyle changes, gradual weight management, and long-term physical recovery.
| Health Topic | Status |
|---|---|
| Sleep Apnea | Managed with CPAP |
| Shoulder Surgery | Completed in 2023, fully recovered |
| Weight Loss | Ongoing healthy lifestyle |
| Serious Illness Rumors | False |
| Current Health | Strong, active, committed to wellness |
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