Mindy Kaling has addressed her significant weight loss, explaining it is motivated by a desire to live longer for her children rather than vanity. The 46-year-old actor and producer spoke to Bustle about her health journey, which has sparked speculation about her use of Ozempic, a diabetes drug popular for weight loss.
Kaling, who has three children aged eight, five, and two, said she realised she needed to 'live at least 20 more years' for them. 'Do I wake up every day being like, “I look amazing and I’m so gorgeous”? No, unsurprisingly, but I truly feel so healthy,' she said. 'When I was younger, I would want to lose weight because of vanity reasons. Now I want to lose weight or have lost weight because I want to stave off things like diabetes.'
The former star of The Office acknowledged the criticism she has faced for losing weight, understanding that fans may feel attached to her previous appearance. 'It’s sometimes no fun when one of your favorite actors loses weight,' she said. 'Of course, it’s never a joy to be scrutinized, but also I truly understand it, as someone who consumes pop culture.'
Kaling has set 'very specific rules' for what she shares publicly, particularly regarding her body and family. She keeps her children out of the spotlight and has never revealed the identity of their father. In a 2023 interview with Allure, she said she avoids discussing her body because 'it takes over the conversation.'
In a 2024 interview with Prevention, Kaling revealed her fitness routine includes 15 to 20 miles of walking per week, and her diet focuses on leafy green vegetables with limited red meat. She said she tries to stick to her eating plan especially when stressed, as that is when she makes 'big health mistakes.'
