Oprah Winfrey's weight loss journey and other celebrity transformations

The media mogul had a weight loss special dubbed Shame, blame and the weight loss revolution, which aired on ABC, a show which has been described as taking over the airwaves on Monday night.

“I wanted to do this special for the more than 100 million people in the United States and the over 1 billion people around the world who are living with obesity, maybe that’s you or maybe that’s somebody you love,” Oprah said at the start of the programme.

She added: “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. 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.”

The celebrated talk-show host got emotional, opening up about the shaming she endured during the years in which she struggled with her weight. She also spoke to various guests and medical experts who were featured.

CNN Entertainment reported: “The medical experts addressed potential side effects of weight loss medications and factors and risks that should be considered before taking it as part of a multifaceted care plan, adding, “Winfrey spoke about her use of weight loss medication as one “tool” to manage her weight, combined with hiking, running, weight resistance training and eating a healthy diet.”

Late last year, there were multiple reports about Oprah’s trimmed-down frame as she did red carpet appearances for her co-produced film, The Colour Purple.

Daily Mail reported the 69-year-old showed up to the premiere of the movie in Beverly Hills looking leaner than ever.

“She showcased her incredibly slimmed down physique in a tight purple dress - months after she insisted that she hadn’t used Ozempic because she considers weight loss drugs the ‘easy way out.’”

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The report added: “The acclaimed talk show host has continuously flaunted her stunning figure over the last few months - after struggling for years with ‘yo-yo dieting’ and battling ‘food addiction.’”

Weight loss transformations are not new in the entertainment scene, with multiple stars shrinking down several sizes in the course of their careers. From healthy lifestyles, weight loss programmes and surgical procedures, there are many ways to go about losing weight.

ADELE

One of the most celebrated artistes of our time, Adele Adkins (known mononymously as Adele), had her weight loss transformation that left fans stunned.

The singer famously lost 100 pounds (45kgs) years back, a journey that she described as part of a new healthier lifestyle that she took on.

Women’s Health magazine reports: “In 2021, Adele made waves after speaking publicly about her 100-pound weight loss–which made headlines in 2019. Since then, she’s shared the strategies that helped her reach her health goals and combat her anxiety. Spoiler: There was no magic diet fad involved. She lost weight over two years by consistently lifting weights and doing circuit training.”

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Adele said that although her body had been objectified her entire career, her weight loss journey was a personal one and that she never felt like she “needed” to lose weight.

“I was body positive [before my weight loss], and I’m body positive now,” she said.

JENNIFER HUDSON

The singer rose to fame as a finalist on season 3 of American Idol, after which she secured major movie roles and had hit songs.

At one point of her career, she enrolled in a weight loss programme called Weight Watchers and lost 80 pounds (36 kgs), dropping from a size 16 to a 6.

The singer opened up about her journey in a 2017 interview.

“I don’t really have time to do much [working out], so I really just watch what I eat. I’m very careful and cautious of what I’m eating, so I just try to pace those meals throughout the day, she said, adding, “Like, okay, eat here, don’t eat here. When it’s early in the morning, I say, okay, I would’ve been asleep ... so I’m not going to eat. I’m very conscious of what I put in my body.”

Good Housekeeping Magazine reports that the singer joined Weight Watchers in 2009 after giving birth to her son, to set a good example.

For Jennifer, it was all about moderation in her process.

She said in a 2011 interview: “I had to break my diet mentality. I used to deprive myself, thinking that was healthy. I didn’t eat pasta, fried food, red meat. I hadn’t had pizza in 10 years. If you’re on a strict diet that says you shouldn’t have any carbs or this or that, your body won’t function the way it should. I know now that I can eat anything I want and still lose or maintain my weight. It’s about portions and balance.”

KALEKYE MUMO

Closer home, the renowned radio personality Kalekye Mumo had her own weight loss transformation in 2016.

Kalekye lost 40 kgs in just 8 months after joining a weight loss programme following a doctor’s encouragement to do so.

“I went to see a doctor who then told me I would need to lose some weight. Based on his tests I could suffer a bad blood clot,” she said at the time.

“I lost 40kgs by following a strict programme that teaches one how to portion based on your body type and blood work. Everything shrunk and I moved from a size 22 to a size 16.”

The late Dr Vladimir Shchukin, who specialised in weight loss surgeries told The Standard at the time that obesity has been proven to be the primary cause of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, arthritis, infertility, heart disease, impotence and stroke among others.

He warned that once one realises that they are significantly above their own ideal weight, seeking medical attention should be a priority.

RISPER FAITH

The influencer and social media personality is a public figure who has dramatically lost weight recently.

She shocked fans after revealing that she used to weigh 125kgs before seeking the aid of cosmetic surgery to trim down.

“Gastric sleeve surgery restricts your food intake, which leads to weight loss. You may lose from 40-60kgs. It’s done as a laparoscopic surgery, with small incisions in the upper abdomen. Most of the left part of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is then a narrow tube called a sleeve,” Risper captioned a ‘before’ clip on her Instagram account earlier this week.