The famous broadcaster and media mogul Oprah Winfrey He acknowledged his “important role” in perpetuating modern diet culture, and expressed his desire to support his fans in Adopt a healthier mindset towards body image.
In a special live broadcast Weight Watchers “I wanted to bring us all together because I think we’ve reached a critical moment in the way we talk and think about our bodies,” he said on YouTube.
The presenter admitted that she has been actively involved in promoting the diet throughout her career, saying: “I have been one of the main contributors. I can’t even tell you how many weight loss and makeover programs I’ve done. Since it’s been a staple since I’ve worked in TV.
His comments originate after his own TV show Shame, blame, and the weight loss revolution (Shame, Guilt, and the Weight Loss Revolution), examining the rise of weight-loss medications and the need to combat the stigma associated with being overweight.
“I came to this conversation with the hope that we can begin to get rid of the shame and judgment,” Winfrey emphasized on that occasion. “Stop blaming others for being overweight or the way they decide to lose weight or not lose weight is the most important thing, and stop blaming ourselves.” he added.
A month before the program, the presenter left the board of directors of Weight Watchers (a company focused on comprehensive nutritional programs) after revealing that she had started taking weight-loss medications. She has been the face of the brand for nearly a decade and has donated her stock to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.
“We were criticized. We were scrutinized. They shamed us. We are told that unless we meet a certain size standard, we do not deserve to be accepted or even loved.“, reversed in the last special.
“I shared that notorious grease-filled car Oprah show “That is one of my biggest regrets,” he admitted, referring to a 1988 episode in which he served up 30 kilograms of animal fat as an expression of the weight he lost due to a liquid diet.
Looking back on that moment, Winfrey admitted she set a difficult bar for the public: “The next day I started gaining weight again.”
The famous small screen personality explained that the origin of these concerns dates back to 1985, when she was critically questioned about her weight by Joan Rivers During his first appearance in Tonight show. “How did you gain weight?” It was the cutting question they asked her, to which she answered nervously: “I ate a lot…”
Far from showing sympathy, Rivers was direct and replied: “No, no, no, no, no, I don’t want to hear that. You are a beautiful girl and you are single. You must lose weight“That was the beginning of a vicious cycle that ended with me going on a liquid diet, where I starved myself for months,” Winfrey recalls.
The emotional damage this moment caused him has continued over the years. Despite the pain and shame these experiences brought her, she sees it as an opportunity to start a necessary conversation about body acceptance. “It’s really hard to love your body when everyone tells you it’s not worth loving.“, He expressed Winfrey.
“Even last week, someone brought this up. They said, ‘Oh, you must have been so angry.’ And I’ll tell you, it never occurred to me to get angry. I thought I deserved it. It’s hard to love your body when everyone tells you it’s not worthy of love.” .
He knows that self-esteem cannot appear overnight, but he encouraged his audience to change their mindset. “Whatever their path, let’s stop shaming ourselves and allow people to process what they’ve also internalized for years. That’s what this conversation is about,” he concluded.
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