The beloved American TV chat show host admitted she made a huge mistake in the past, and she is advising to not repeat it
Oprah Winfrey recently expressed her regrets about promoting diet culture, making a heartfelt apology to her audience. Known for her influential talk show that captivated viewers for 25 years until its conclusion in 2011, Oprah has often been seen as a pivotal figure in media discussions about personal health and weight loss.
During her latest appearance on the WeightWatchers live special titled ‘Making the Shift’, reflected on her past programming, which frequently featured weight loss challenges and makeovers, acknowledging her significant impact on perpetuating diet culture through various media outlets, including her magazine and online platforms.
“I have been deeply embedded in diet culture, utilizing my shows, magazine, and online presence to propagate it,” Oprah admitted. “The number of weight loss episodes and makeovers we’ve done over the years has been overwhelming, and it’s time for a change.”
Oprah Winfrey on weight loss issues
Oprah Winfrey recently revisited one of her most notorious moments on television—the time she showcased 67 pounds of fat on a wagon, symbolizing her own weight loss. Reflecting on this episode, she now regards it as “one of my biggest regrets.”
“This act emphasized the unrealistic expectations set by extreme diets, like the liquid diet I was on, which is something I nor anyone else could sustain,” she commented. Winfrey admitted that almost immediately after that episode, she began regaining the weight, highlighting the impracticality and temporary nature of such drastic measures.
Winfrey also recalled making a commitment on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Joan Rivers to lose a significant amount of weight. This decision led to starving herself. “I was so embarrassed by that,” Winfrey confessed. “It initiated a harmful pattern of weight fluctuations that culminated in that extreme diet, culminating in the dramatic wagon of fat display.”
Now at 70, Winfrey shared that she has been using medication for the past five months to help maintain her weight, moving away from the severe dieting tactics of her past.
