Oprah Winfrey lost over 40 pounds.
Now she’s here to say that since the dramatic change in her physical appearance, she’s been treated much differently.
Oprah Winfrey, the 68-year-old television host and producer, is being open about her weight loss and the stigma behind it.
Winfrey hosted a panel called Oprah Daily’s “The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight,”, where she talked about the obesity and weight crisis. This is a problem that has effected more than two billion adults globally at a yearly rate.
Dr. Fatima Cody Standford and Dr. Melanie Jay, psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman and Sima Sistani, the CEO of WeightWatchers were all present for the panel as the topic was discussed.
As the segment progressed, Winfrey said, “You all know I’ve been on this journey for most of my life. My highest weight was 237 pounds. I don’t know if there is another public person who’s weight struggle has been exploited as much as mine over the years.”
She continued by saying,”You all have watched me diet and diet and diet. It’s a recurring thing because my body always seems to want to go back to a certain weight.”
Winfrey then went on to address the way she felt when she did weigh over 200 pounds. She added, “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.”
The media mogul then explained that she mostly saw the stigma around weight while shopping.
“It’s that thing where people are like, ‘Let me show you the gloves. Would you like to look at the handbags? Because we know that there’s nothing in here for you,’ she said. “There is a condescension. There is a stigma.”
Later in the panel, Winfrey also spoke about taking Ozempric. This FDA-approved prescription is a medication for people with type 2 diabetes but has since taken Hollywood and the internet by storm with it’s amazing weight loss results.
“Shouldn’t we all just be more accepting of whatever body you choose to be in? That should be your choice,” Winfrey said. “Even when I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time I was going through knee surgery, and I felt, ‘I’ve got to do this on my own.’ Because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out.”
Winfrey also shared that she has since “shamed the tabloids every week for about 25 years” and declared that they did “not have the willpower” when it comes to her weight loss journey.
For some people, it takes a lot to become comfortable in their own skin. We can only hope that one day, everyone won’t feel the need to be so judgmental and support others being free in their bodies.
