“I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture,” Oprah Winfrey revealed in a recent livestream with WeightWatchers.
The media mogul acknowledged her 25-year history of promoting weight loss on her platforms.
“I cannot tell you how many weight loss shows and makeovers I have done,” Oprah admitted.
Reflecting on her career, she realized the impact of these shows and her role in perpetuating harmful standards.
Oprah’s journey to self-acceptance has been a long and public one. She mentioned the notorious “wagon of fat” moment from 1988 as a significant regret.
“It set a standard for people watching that I nor anybody else could uphold,” she said.
Oprah’s open-reflections revealed the shame she felt from her very public struggle with weight.
A Long Road to Self-Love
During the three-hour event, Oprah shared personal stories describing her toxic relationship with her body. One such story was from her first national TV appearance in 1985. Invited to “The Tonight Show,” she was interviewed by Joan Rivers.
Oprah recalled, “[Rivers] said, ‘So how’d you gain the weight?’ I was caught completely off guard.”
This encounter stayed with her for decades. Oprah’s conversation with Rivers marked the beginning of a vicious cycle of dieting.
“My shame story happened to be on national television,” she said.
This shame fueled years of yo-yo dieting, culminating in the infamous liquid diet and the subsequent “wagon of fat” episode. Her public struggle became a national spectacle, impacting her deeply.
Breaking Free From Diet Culture
Oprah intertwined her relationship with her body with her talk show for over two decades. She often discussed various diets and her battle to accept herself.
“It’s hard to love yourself when the rest of the world is constantly telling you that what you look like isn’t enough,” she told her audience.
The constant scrutiny affected her profoundly.
Oprah revealed to People magazine that she has been using weight loss medication since fall 2023. She also admitted that she did not plan this decision. Despite her progress, Oprah acknowledged that “acceptance and joy” are two different things when it comes to body image. She is continually evolving on her journey. She is also determined to shift the conversation around weight and acceptance.
Conversations With Fellow Celebrities
Oprah was not alone in the discussion. Rebel Wilson and Busy Philipps also shared their experiences with weight stigma. In addition, Philipps discussed how her size impacted her career.
“I’m just gonna be so real with you; my opportunities are better if I’m a certain size,” she said.
Her 2018 memoir detailed the struggles she faced in Hollywood due to her weight.
Wilson also talked about how people stereotype her because of her size.
“I used being overweight to my advantage and landed into comedy,” she explained.
Wilson was relieved when she found out that it wasn’t true. She was fearful of losing her career if she lost weight.
“Turns out, that’s not the truth,” she said.
Both women echoed Oprah’s sentiments about the pressure to conform to certain body standards.
Oprah’s honesty during the livestream marked a significant step in her journey. By sharing her story, she also hopes to inspire others to break free from diet culture.
“What I know for sure is that I am done with it,” Oprah declared.
Her powerful words resonated with many, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and challenging societal norms.