Oops, Oprah has done it again

In my opinion, Oprah works hard but diet culture as a whole, works a ton harder.

*These are my personal thoughts only and this is not in any way, shape or form an attack on anyone who makes certain lifestyle choices.*

Oprah Winfrey at “The Color Purple” world premiere at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles, December 6, 2023

This isn’t a new thing. We have seen this up and down, all around, dieting cycle from Oprah Winfrey for as long as she’s been in the public eye. I remember watching her talk show with my mother after school and listening to all of the health experts she had on and many times partnered with to promote a “healthier lifestyle”. Nutritionists and personal trainers were brought on to discuss the best way to be healthy and more directly, how to lose weight. In 1988, she famously brought on the wagon of 67 pounds of animal fat, the amount of weight that she had lost. I was too young at the time that particular segment aired but it is one episode that people constantly talk about. Probably in part due to the shock value (nothing like a little fat imagery to get folks talking), but also because she would later go on to regain the weight, and more, over the years.

Oprah Winfrey bringing 67 pounds of animal fat on stage in 1988.

The magazine O, The Oprah Magazine was first published on April 19, 2000. The covers were infamous because instead of models or celebrities gracing the covers, it was Oprah herself. The cover that I remember distinctly was the January 2009 cover. January, the month of new beginnings and fresh starts. The month when most people will try to begin their weight loss journey. And it was also the month that Oprah declared “How did I let this happen again?”. The cover featured two images of herself juxtaposed side by side. One Oprah was smiling in a white athletic crop top displaying visible abdominal muscles and the other Oprah was placed next to her in a purple athletic set, her body covered, and her face confused as to what she did “wrong”. 

January 2009 O, The Oprah Magazine cover

Well Oprah is in the news recently once again. Not only because she is an executive producer of the musical film adaptation of The Color Purple (a movie she starred in, in 1985 playing the role of Sophia) but also because of her noticeably slimmer figure and her confirmation in how it was attained. Her body wasn’t really the surprise considering she has been losing weight for a few months now but the true speculation from the public is on the how it was done. In October 2015, she had bought 10 percent of the weight loss company Weight Watchers (WW) and has since sold off most of her shares but remains a board member. Many of us have seen the commercials featuring her and her “what I eat in a day” promotions featuring the WW point system and as a WW ambassador, her image was everywhere on the website with quotes such as “The greatest gift you can give yourself is to live the life you love.”