The former daytime talk show host has offered details of her physical and emotional struggles with body image issues and body shaming she's subjected to.
- Mar 19, 2024
AceShowbiz - Oprah Winfrey has candidly shared the emotional toll that decades of yo-yo dieting and negative comments have had on her. In her recent ABC special, "An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution," she recounted her struggles with weight loss over the years, including an infamous moment when she slimmed down and wheeled out a wagon of fat on her talk show.
"To combat the shame, I starved myself for nearly five months," Winfrey recalled of the 1988 incident. "But I gained it all back the next day."
The media mogul also revealed that she faced relentless ridicule for 25 years on late-night talk shows and tabloid covers with headlines like "Oprah: Fatter Than Ever."
Winfrey's mindset shifted over time as she realized that people who don't struggle with weight may not be using willpower but simply aren't obsessing over food. She also reframed her view of obesity as a "disease, not a character flaw."
During the special, Winfrey addressed the stigma associated with prescription weight-loss medications, which she has stated she has been using as a tool to manage her yo-yoing. "I am done with the shaming from other people and myself," she asserted.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Winfrey expressed her hope that her story would "liberate" people from blame and help them understand that weight issues are not their fault. "It's your brain," she said. "Once you realize that, you can get help to manage it."
Winfrey's openness about her struggles has resonated with many who have faced similar challenges. She has emphasized the importance of releasing shame and seeking support to overcome weight-related issues without judgment or ridicule.
