Oprah Winfrey Reflects on Weight Struggles on “The View”

During an appearance on “The View,” Oprah Winfrey shared her thoughts on the jokes made about her weight by comedians over the years, admitting she often felt like she deserved the ridicule.

Winfrey, along with Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, co-authored a book titled “Enough,” detailing her journey with weight loss. In her conversation, she expressed the shame and self-blame she felt for her weight. “I thought it was my fault for being overweight,” Winfrey remarked. She noted that when comedians poked fun at her, she accepted it, thinking, “I should lose weight.”

She explained that while she believed she could shed the pounds, the embarrassment of regaining weight always lingered. She recalled a particular incident on “The Tonight Show” where Joan Rivers harshly commented on her weight, leading her to feel embarrassed but ultimately motivated to lose weight.

“I accepted it because I thought they were right,” she stated, recalling that moment vividly. Winfrey mentioned, “That horrible moment I had… I remember going home embarrassed.” Despite the hurt, she was not mad at Rivers, seeing it as a challenge to lose the weight.

Co-host Joy Behar empathized, assuring Winfrey that she was not alone in her struggles. Winfrey admitted that she eventually came to view the tabloid ridicule as just part of her life.

In 2023, she started taking a GLP-1 medication to help with weight loss but stopped after six months to try and lose weight without it. Even with dieting and exercise, she found herself gaining back 20 pounds after discontinuing the drug.

Reflecting on her experience, Winfrey concluded, “It’s going to last a lifetime.” She mentioned ongoing health challenges, emphasizing her need for medication. “I think the same is true now for these drugs. I proved to myself that I need it,” she noted, hinting at the complexity of her ongoing journey with weight and health.