Oprah Winfrey has publicly acknowledged her significant role in shaping diet culture, a topic she explores in her latest book, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like To Be Free. Released on March 12, 2024, the book is co-authored with Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff and delves into issues surrounding weight and obesity.
In a candid reflection, Winfrey revisited a pivotal moment from her past—an episode of her iconic talk show where she showcased a red wagon carrying 67 pounds of fat, symbolizing her weight loss journey. Despite her efforts to promote healthy weight management, Winfrey now regards her past discussions on dieting as a source of personal regret. She stated, “I want to acknowledge that I have been a steadfast participant in the diet culture that contributed to some of this shame.”
Winfrey highlighted how her long career in television and publishing inadvertently sent harmful messages about body image and dieting. She recognized that her portrayal of weight loss often implied that extreme measures, such as liquid diets, were acceptable. “Recognizing once and for all that obesity is not a moral failing, that it’s a chronic, relapsing disease—that has been life-changing for me,” she wrote.
A notable shift in Winfrey’s approach to weight management occurred when she began using a GLP-1 medication, a decision she had previously hesitated to make. In December 2023, she confirmed her use of the drug, stating she was “done with the shaming” surrounding it. Winfrey emphasized that the medically approved prescription is not solely responsible for her weight loss, but rather one of several tools she employs in her health regimen.
During a conversation on her Super Soul podcast, Winfrey discussed the significant change she experienced after starting the medication, particularly the reduction of what she termed “food noise”—the persistent thoughts of hunger that often distract from healthy eating. “One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people had more willpower,” she said. “They ate better foods. They were able to stick to it longer.”
Winfrey’s reflections offer a nuanced perspective on the complexities of weight management and the societal pressures surrounding it. She has expressed a desire to share her newfound understanding with others, emphasizing that true wellness involves more than just diet. Through her book and public discussions, Winfrey aims to reshape the conversation around health and body image, advocating for a more compassionate approach to obesity.
In her journey, Winfrey has transitioned from a prominent figure in diet culture to an advocate for holistic health, hoping to encourage others to reevaluate the narratives they have internalized about weight and self-worth.
