Oprah Winfrey Expresses Regret For Being A 'Major Contributor' To Toxic Diet Culture

While hosting the Making the Shift WeightWatchers live special on Thursday, Oprah Winfrey apologized for being a “major contributor” to toxic diet culture.

The talk show host, who announced in March that she will be stepping down from her role at WeightWatchers after serving on its board of directors for nine years, addressed her role in promoting and idealizing unrealistic diet and weight-loss standards over the course of decades and took the opportunity to express her regret.

She began:

“I’ve been a steadfast participant in this diet culture."

“Through my platforms, through the magazine, through the talk show for 25 years, through online ― I’ve been a major contributor to it."

"I cannot tell you how many weight loss shows and makeovers I have done, and they have been a staple since I’ve been working in television.”

The media mogul opened up about the "wagon of fat" moment in which she televised a visual representation of the 67 pounds of fat she lost, wheeling it out on a wagon during a 1988 episode of her show.

Winfrey considers it one of her "biggest regrets."

“It sent a message that starving yourself with a liquid diet set a standard for people watching that I nor anybody else could uphold."

“And I’ve said this before, the very next day, I began to gain the weight back.”

She added:

“That was the start of a vicious cycle of yo-yoing that ended up with that liquid diet where I literally starved myself for months, and the result was that now famous wagon of fat moment.”

“It’s really hard to love your own body when the whole world is telling you it wasn’t worth loving."

You can watch below.

Viewers of the clip applauded Oprah for acknowledging her role in toxic diet culture and appreciated her apology.

Others, however, believe Winfrey is still contributing to unhealthy weight loss goals and body image obsession by using an unnamed prescription to lose weight.

In December, Winfrey told People she had begun exercising regularly, made some lifestyle changes, and started taking a weight-loss medication, though she didn't specify which one.

“The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for."

“I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”

You can watch the full WeightWatchers special below.