Oprah Winfrey Opens Up About Weight Stigma and Personal Struggles
In a candid conversation about the challenges of dealing with weight stigma, media mogul Oprah Winfrey recently hosted a panel titled “The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight” on Oprah Daily. This discussion delved into the global obesity and weight crisis, which affects an estimated 2 billion adults worldwide. Joining her in this conversation were experts in the field, including obesity specialists Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Dr. Melanie Jay, psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman, and Sima Sistani, the CEO of WeightWatchers.
During the panel, Oprah Winfrey shared her personal journey with weight, stating, “You all know I’ve been on this journey for most of my life. My highest weight was 237 lbs. I don’t know if there is another public person whose weight struggle has been exploited as much as mine over the years.” She continued by highlighting her numerous attempts at dieting, emphasizing that her body often seemed to gravitate back to a certain weight.
Winfrey also spoke about the different ways people treated her when her weight exceeded 200 lbs. She noted, “This is a world that has shamed people for being overweight forever. And all of us who’ve lived it know that people treat you differently, they just do.” She recounted her experiences of feeling condescension and stigma while shopping, explaining that store employees would often imply there was nothing suitable for her.
During the panel, Winfrey discussed her use of Ozempic, an FDA-approved prescription medication for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Ozempic, along with similar medications like semaglutide, tirzepatide (known as Wegovy and Mounjaro), is gaining popularity in Hollywood as a weight loss aid. Winfrey expressed her belief that individuals should have the autonomy to choose the body they feel comfortable in and questioned society’s judgment surrounding weight loss drugs.
Reflecting on her own experience, Winfrey shared that she had been subjected to tabloid shaming for over two decades, enduring accusations of lacking willpower in her weight loss journey. Her candid discussion sheds light on the ongoing issue of weight stigma and the challenges many individuals face in their pursuit of health and happiness.
Few of us understand the root causes of obesity, despite the fact that 2 billion adults struggle with it. @Oprah @askdrfatima @drmelaniejay @SimaSistani and @AskDr_Rachel bust myths surrounding this disease. Watch “The Life You Want” Class here: https://t.co/JPNtk2Jk1M
A THREAD: pic.twitter.com/oWBzTXgs9a
— Oprah Daily (@OprahDaily) September 22, 2023