Oprah Winfrey opens up on decades of weight shaming in emotional TV special

Oprah Winfrey recently hosted a new TV special titled "An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution," where she openly discussed her struggles with weight loss and the public criticism she has faced for decades.

The show, which aired on Monday night, aimed to address the experiences of over 100 million people in the United States and more than 1 billion people worldwide dealing with obesity.

During the special, Winfrey spoke about the shame and humiliation she has endured over the years, particularly highlighting the cruel jokes and headlines that mocked her weight.

"I have to say that I took on the shame that the world gave to me. For 25 years, making fun of my weight was national sport,” said Winfrey.

“In my lifetime I never dreamed we would be talking about medicines that would be providing hope to people, like me, who have struggled for years with being overweight or with obesity,” she continued.

She shared a memory from 1990 when she was featured on the cover of TV Guide for the "Best and Worst Dressed" list, only to be called "Bumpy, lumpy, and downright dumpy" by the fashion critic Mr. Blackwell.

She said, "I was ridiculed on every late night talk show for 25 years and tabloid covers for 25 years.”

Winfrey also touched on the extreme measures she took to lose weight, including starving herself and going on a liquid diet, which led her to lose 67 pounds.

However, she pointed out the fleeting nature of this victory, as she began to regain the weight almost immediately after.

“In an effort to combat all the shame, I starved myself for nearly five months, and then, wheeled out that wagon of fat that the internet will never let me forget. And after losing 67 pounds on a liquid diet, the next day, y'all, the very next day, I started to gain it back,” Winfrey said

The special didn't just focus on Winfrey's personal journey; it also included interviews with medical experts and individuals who have battled with their weight for years.

The goal of the program was to shed light on the stigma surrounding weight loss and the use of weight loss medications to promote a more understanding approach to obesity.

Winfrey, at 70, stated the importance of releasing the stigma, shame, and judgment associated with being overweight.

“I come to this conversation with the hope that we can start releasing the stigma and the shame and the judgment – to stop shaming other people for being overweight or how they choose to lose or not lose weight – and more importantly to stop shaming ourselves,” she said.