Media titan Oprah Winfrey presented a dramatically slimmer figure this week, stepping out in New York City to promote her latest publication. The 71-year-old attended an 'In Conversation' event at the 92NY community centre on Tuesday, showcasing the results of her recent health journey which has included the use of weight-loss medication.
A New Perspective on Weight and Health
Winfrey's appearance, in a form-fitting white turtleneck dress paired with white heels and hoop earrings, highlighted her trim physique. The event served as the launchpad for her new book, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like To Be Free, published that same day. Co-authored with obesity specialist Dr. Ania Jastreboff, the book presents a paradigm shift, framing obesity as a 'treatable disease' rather than a simple lack of willpower.
In a candid Instagram clip shared with her followers, Winfrey elaborated on this crucial insight. "All this time I did not know, that I was carrying a chronic disease that caused me to overeat," she revealed. She was joined in the video by Dr. Jastreboff and close friend Gayle King. Winfrey stressed the core message: "The message I'm trying to get out to people is, willpower is not gonna work if you have obesity."
A Lifelong Struggle Reframed
The television legend described a lifetime of battling her weight, only recently understanding the biological factors at play. "All this time, I've struggled and fought thinking, if I just diet, if I just work out, if I just put down my fork... and that doesn't work if your biology says that you're going to gain the weight no matter what," she explained. Gayle King emphasised there is "science behind it," to which Oprah added a key revelation: "This is the big thing I learned. Obesity causes you to overeat. You overeat because you have obesity. You don't eat your way to obesity. Big shift for me."
This public discussion follows years of personal scrutiny and public shaming over her size. Winfrey recently recalled feeling "embarrassed and humiliated" during past interviews where her weight was questioned. She also reflected on painful personal moments, such as attending a 1988 Mike Tyson fight and realising she weighed a similar amount to the heavyweight champion, which made her feel "sorry" for her longtime partner, Stedman Graham.
Medication, Support, and a New Chapter
Winfrey has been open about using a GLP-1 medication as part of her health regimen for the past two and a half years, publicly acknowledging it in December 2023. She stated she is now "done with the shaming" and uses the medication "as a tool to manage not yo-yoing." At her heaviest, she weighed 237 pounds and was pre-diabetic with high cholesterol. She says the treatment has allowed her to stop obsessing over food and even embrace regular exercise.
Throughout her decades-long journey, she credits Stedman Graham with unwavering support. "He has absolutely been nothing but supportive through all of it," Winfrey told People magazine. "When he met me, I was 200 pounds. And it's never made one iota of a difference." She now feels her relationships have improved and that she has "more to give to everybody."
By sharing her story and new book, Oprah Winfrey aims to transform the cultural conversation around weight, moving it from blame and shame towards understanding and medical treatment.
