In a powerful and personal new interview, media titan Oprah Winfrey has turned the conventional understanding of weight gain on its head, asserting that overeating is a symptom of obesity, not its cause. The 71-year-old icon, who has publicly navigated her relationship with her body for decades, made the claim while promoting her forthcoming book on health and wellness.
A Lifelong Struggle and a National Spectacle
Winfrey recounted the intense scrutiny of her weight over the years, revealing she was once cruelly described as 'bumpy, lumpy and down dumpy' by a fashion critic in the 1990s. She said mockery of her size became a 'national sport' in America. At her heaviest, the talk show host weighed over 16 stone (approximately 224 pounds).
Her journey included a notable moment in 1998 when, ahead of a Vogue cover shoot, editor Anna Wintour 'gently suggested' she lose 20 pounds—a goal Winfrey achieved. Despite such efforts, she described a constant battle, where her body would stubbornly return to around 15 stone (211 pounds) even during periods of extreme diet and exercise.
The Medical Epiphany and a New Approach
Winfrey's perspective shifted dramatically in 2023 after what she calls an 'epiphany'. She came to understand obesity as a chronic disease requiring medical intervention, rather than a personal failure of willpower. "I thought it was about discipline and willpower. But I stopped blaming myself," she told PEOPLE magazine.
This realisation led her to begin using prescription weight-loss injections, through which she has lost four stone. She now combines this weekly medication with healthy eating and exercise, describing the regimen as a lifelong tool. "It felt like a relief . . . a gift," she said of finally finding a medical solution after years of yo-yo dieting.
Understanding the Body's 'Enough Point'
Central to her new philosophy is the concept of the body's 'Enough Point', a term used by her co-author, obesity specialist Dr Ania Jastreboff. This refers to a set weight your body maintains based on genetics and environment, resisting most traditional diets. Winfrey says the medication helps manage the 'food noise' and signals sent to the brain about overeating.
"I want people to know it’s not your fault. I want people to stop blaming yourself for genes and an environment you can't control," Winfrey stated emphatically. She added that the absence of constant cravings has given her a "quiet strength" and that everything in her life now feels "calmer and stronger."
Her new book, 'Enough: Your Health, Your Weight and What It's Like To Be Free', which details this transformative journey, is set for release on January 13. Oprah Winfrey concludes that she finally feels 'free' and is the healthiest she has ever been, marking a profound close to a very public chapter of struggle.
