During a recent livestream, Oprah Winfrey addressed the role she played in perpetuating diet culture over the years. She spoke at the WeightWatchers event about reaching a pivotal moment in the way we talk about and think about our bodies. Winfrey acknowledged her own participation in diet culture through her platforms over the past 25 years, particularly through weight loss shows and makeovers on her talk show. She expressed regret over a moment in 1988 when she rolled a wagon of fat onto the stage, sending a harmful message about starving oneself with a liquid diet.
After serving on the board of WW since 2015, Winfrey announced she would be leaving the board of directors and not standing for re-election at the next shareholder meeting in May. Over the decades, she has been candid about her health, including her experience with weight loss. Winfrey showed off her 26-pound weight loss on the cover of O magazine in 2016, along with other women on similar health journeys. She also committed to walking 10,000 steps per day as part of her health and lifestyle adjustments.
In a 2017 interview, Winfrey discussed her struggle with balancing body acceptance and her health. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to reduce strain on the heart and lower the risk of health issues like high blood pressure and diabetes. Winfrey highlighted the consciousness and awareness that WeightWatchers provided in helping her stay on track with her diet. She continued to face challenges and revealed in 2023 that she had started taking a weight loss drug to manage her weight more effectively and overcome the issue of yo-yo dieting.
In a 2024 interview on CNN, Winfrey shared why she started taking a weight loss drug, citing her inability to work out effectively and the feeling of hope that the medication provided. She expressed frustration with herself for not being able to figure out a solution to her weight struggles on her own and emphasized that obesity is a disease that affects the brain. Winfrey stressed the importance of understanding and treating obesity as a medical condition rather than a personal failing. Overall, Winfrey’s journey with weight loss and health challenges has been marked by honesty, vulnerability, and a commitment to finding solutions that work for her.
