You are an inspiration, Oprah ❤️

Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential figures in media history, has lived much of her life under public scrutiny. The former talk show host, who rose to fame with *The Oprah Winfrey Show* in 1986, became a household name in the United States and around the world. Over her 25-year career, she interviewed thousands of guests on countless subjects, but in hindsight, one particular moment related to **weight and body image** stands out as her biggest regret.

Oprah has been candid about her struggles with weight for decades. Two years ago, she revealed that she had begun taking **GLP-1**, a type 2 diabetes medication that can also promote weight loss, and lost 50 pounds. She admitted that this experience changed the way she viewed other people. “All these years I thought that thin people just had more willpower,” she said on *The Oprah Podcast*, realizing that their eating habits weren’t about restriction—they simply ate when hungry and stopped when full.

Despite facing harsh public criticism, including magazine covers labeling her “Dumpy, Frumpy and Downright Lumpy,” Oprah acknowledged her role in promoting **diet culture**. “I have been a steadfast participant in this diet culture through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years,” she told *People Magazine*. While she felt “blamed and shamed,” she also admitted, *“I swallowed the shame, I accepted that it was my fault.”*

Her biggest regret came from a 1988 episode of her show, where she rolled a wagon of fat onto the stage to display her own weight loss. She now says the act sent a harmful message, promoting starvation diets that were neither healthy nor sustainable. “The very next day, I began to gain the weight back,” Oprah reflected.

Today, at 71, Oprah continues to advocate for healthier perspectives on body image. She has spoken openly about her journey, owning past mistakes while emphasizing that she is “done with the shaming” and committed to doing better. Beyond her media career, she continues to influence through *The Oprah Podcast* and her book club, while also sharing her personal journey to inspire others.