In 1988, while revealing her shocking weight loss on her talk show, Oprah Winfrey famously wheeled out a wagon containing 67 pounds of fat. She explained how she’d been on a “medically supervised” liquid protein fast. This was the beginning of a decades-long emotional roller coaster involving Oprah’s weight. Her popularity and influence meant that not only was the audience deeply invested in her weight loss journey, if she recommended a diet, product or method, it usually became the hottest trend in the industry.
When she was just a talk show host who wrote books or appeared in commercials, her endorsement or support for certain products didn’t seem that weird. She was essentially just an entertainer who was suggesting things, something plenty of her peers did. But those endorsements and recommendations hit differently when she’s on the board of a company.
Winfrey’s recent announcement that she’s leaving the board of Weight Watchers after 10 years with the company rocked the industry. The decision follows her disclosure in December that she used a weight loss drug to help with her most recent transformation. The scandal has caused Oprah to lose credibility when it comes to weight loss.
Now, it looks like she’s trying to get some of that credibility back with a new ABC special examining the issue. According to Variety, the media mogul “recorded the special in front of a live studio audience and gathers medical experts to discuss weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy.”
Here’s the thing: We’ve been doing this dance with Oprah for decades. She discovers a new method, undergoes a huge transformation, then uses her platform to expound on the very specific technique she used. These drugs may actually work, but there’s something about this whole situation that just feels disingenuous.
Do I believe that Oprah has very strong, emotional feelings about weight loss and body image? Yes, she’s made that very clear. Do I also believe that she’s a businesswoman who understands the power of her influence in this space and knows when to use it to maximum effect? Of course she does. That’s how you become a billionaire.
I truly hope Oprah finds a place where she feels completely comfortable with her body. But at this point, I need her to calm down and let the rest of us find our own way, because when it comes to weight loss I can’t trust or believe her anymore.
“An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution” airs Monday, March 18 at 8 p.m. on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu the next day.