Oprah winfrey’s relationship with food, and her weight, has been a public conversation for decades, but a recent shift marks a significant departure from past struggles. She now reports experiencing a remarkable lack of “food noise” – the constant mental chatter about eating – and a corresponding absence of shame, allowing her to enjoy a croissant without spiraling into guilt.
A Quiet Mind, A New Approach
The media mogul describes a newfound freedom from obsessive thoughts about food and body image.
- Winfrey attributes her change to recognizing obesity as a disease, not a personal failing.
- She has been using Mounjaro, a GLP-1 medication, as 2023 to manage her condition.
- The absence of constant food-related thoughts has been profoundly liberating.
- Winfrey has also experienced a diminished desire for alcohol since starting the medication.
“food noise,” as defined by Tufts Medicine, is a relentless internal dialogue about food that drives individuals “to eat when they’re not hungry, obsess over meals and feel shame or guilt about their eating habits.” This obsessive thinking has been a central feature of Winfrey’s struggles with weight for years, fueling a cycle of yo-yo dieting and self-criticism.
Winfrey’s turning point came with a deeper understanding of the science of obesity. She realized that her decades-long battle wasn’t a matter of willpower, but a physiological condition. “I have been blamed and shamed,” she said in a 2023 interview, “and I blamed and shamed myself.” She added that she was “absolutely done with the shaming from other peopel and particularly myself” after years of public scrutiny regarding her weight.
As 2026 approaches, Winfrey reports a complete mental shift. “I came to understand that overeating doesn’t cause obesity. Obesity causes overeating,” she explained. “And that’s the most mind-blowing, freeing thing I’ve experienced as an adult.” She has chosen not to disclose her current weight to the public.
Winfrey began using Mounjaro, a GLP-1 medication, in 2023.She briefly paused the medication in early 2024 and experienced some weight regain despite maintaining her exercise routine and healthy eating habits. This experience reinforced her understanding that ongoing medication will be a lifelong necessity. “C’est la vie,” she remarked.
“I’m not constantly punishing myself,” Winfrey said. “I hardly recognise the woman I’ve become. But she’s a happy woman.”
She supplements the medication with carefully managed magnesium and ensures adequate hydration. The injections are typically weekly, though she sometimes extends the interval to 10 or 12 days. Packing for the Australian leg of her “Enough” book tour, she found, was a joyful experience, free from the usual shame. She’s also embraced regular exercise.
beyond the “quiet strength” that comes with reduced food noise, Winfrey has noticed another unexpected benefit: a diminished interest in alcohol.”I was a big fan of tequila. I literally had 17 shots one night,” she told People. “I haven’t had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing.”
Returning to the croissant, Winfrey described her reaction after finishing it: “I felt nothing.The only thing I thought was, ‘I need to clean up these crumbs.'”
