"He was literally on the verge of death!" Rogan and Derek reveal the terrifying reason why The Rock lost

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and his recent, visibly slimmer physique has not escaped the attention of Joe Rogan or Derek from the More Plates More Dates channel. In a recent podcast episode, they dissected Johnson's new look, his openness about peptides, and speculation about what's really behind the change.

Fans have been able to watch The Rock transform from a professional wrestler into one of Hollywood's biggest stars over the years. From the Fast and the Furious franchise to his massive role in Black Adam, Johnson has continually pushed the boundaries of how big an actor can be on screen.

For his recent project The Smashing Machine, where he portrayed MMA fighter Mark Kerr, the 53-year-old actor packed on a huge amount of muscle and weight. Fans were shocked by his size (and disguise). However, shortly after the filming was completed, the opposite extreme came to pass - The Rock significantly slimmed down his physique.

This change sparked a wave of speculation that Johnson may have come off performance enhancing drugs (PEDs). Now, MPMD's Joe Rogan and Derek have taken a look at why he likely decided to trade in his massive bulk for a more athletic and healthier look.

Joe Rogan and Derek break down the risks and the "health phase"

In the podcast, Rogan mentioned that Johnson recently talked about taking peptides, and called his transformation crazy. Derek added that it probably has to do with the new "health phase" that The Rock has entered.

"I actually saw The Rock talking about using peptides recently," Derek noted. "Interesting, so he's already dabbled in that a little bit," Rogan laughed. "He's lost a ton of weight, man. It's pretty crazy."

Derek speculates that there may be health reasons behind it, especially after the role that made him put on the most bulk of his career. "God, that must have been horrible for him," Rogan added, referring to the strain on his body.

Both agree that Johnson must have been aware of the risks associated with holding that amount of muscle mass at the age of over 50, when his weight was approaching the 300-pound (136 kg) mark.

"He probably knew how close he was to a problem. At 50 years old and weighing around 136 kilos...," Derek mused. "He probably underwent a lot of precautionary tests before he took the role, so he knew he'd survive at all. Being the heaviest you'll ever be at that age is a pretty risky business."

"The theory is that he was literally on the verge of death"

Derek has come up with a rather obscure but logical theory regarding rapid weight loss:

"The fact that he then shrank like that... the theory is that he was literally on the verge of death. So that's why he's lost so much weight now. I think he's going through a sort of 'health phase' where he'll knock the weight down for a while, and then he'll probably burn back up."

The discussion also turned to how The Rock avoids direct answers about steroid use. According to Derek, Johnson is "strategically perfect" at it. Instead of outright lying, he often diverts attention elsewhere.

The Rock has publicly stated in the past that he does not use steroids, and in one interview he mentioned heart problems. Many believe that was the impetus that made him prioritize health and longevity over the pursuit of the biggest biceps possible.

At 53, Johnson's priority seems to have shifted toward sustainability. Only time will tell if he decides to take extreme weight again for another film role in the future.