Opinion: Oprah's Take on Diet Culture
Author Adrienne Bitar challenges the notion of the American diet dream equating hard work with success, following Oprah Winfrey's disclosure of using weight-loss medication Her thought-provoking opinion urges a redefinition of success altogether
Adrienne Bitar, author of "Diet and the Disease of Civilization" and lecturer in American Studies at Cornell University, expressed her own views in this commentary. To read more opinions, visit CNN.
Recently, Oprah Winfrey admitted to using weight-loss medication, leaving some Americans feeling betrayed. As the figurehead for WeightWatchers and an icon of dieting, how could she turn her back on the belief that diet and exercise lead to weight loss? Perhaps Oprah is acknowledging an uncomfortable truth: diets rarely succeed. No matter how much determination or effort is put in, the weight tends to come back.
Adrienne Bitar
Adrienne Bitar suggests that if Oprah's team of chefs and trainers couldn't get her to a size 6 without drugs, it's time to rethink the idea that hard work always equals success in the American diet dream and redefine what success means.
The concept of dieting encompasses both theory and practice. In theory, there is a desire to believe that our bodies can be shaped according to our will and that our health is constantly improvable. In reality, we witness our bodies aging and being susceptible to illnesses such as cancer, as well as the occurrence of tragedies. Despite these challenges, dieting often instills hope in individuals, serving as a catalyst for them to undertake difficult tasks and take the first step towards achieving something greater. Research has shown that the decision to diet can imbue individuals with a sense of strength, much like how committing to regular exercise can make individuals feel more empowered.
It's important to remember that our bodies do not define our worth as human beings. Whether it's opting for weight-loss drugs, rejecting the diet culture, or embarking on a diet, all of these choices are valid when it comes to maintaining one's health. Oprah's use of weight-loss drugs does not speak to her work ethic, and the act of rejecting diet culture as a whole can be both powerful and empowering. Similarly, going on a diet can be a fulfilling experience that inspires individuals to achieve difficult goals or simply feel stronger as they strive to make positive changes.
In Portland, Ore., on Aug. 30, 2021, Aubrey Gordon, co-host of the podcast "Maintenance Phase," is seen working on an episode in her home office. Alongside co-host Michael Hobbes, Gordon delves into what they term the "wellness-industrial complex" in each episode, dispelling health trends and dietary advice. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Ruth Fremson/The New York Times/Redux
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Oprah told People magazine that the weight-loss medication provides relief, redemption, and a gift, rather than something to be hidden behind and ridiculed. People are often mocked and shamed for not taking action about their weight and instead enduring the struggles of a diet. Memes make fun of those with "Ozempic face" for their gaunt expressions, and some Reddit users anonymously refer to these drugs as the easy way out. Even Jimmy Kimmel made fun of weight loss drug users at the 2023 Oscars.
These critics are holding onto a false belief: the American diet dream that hard work equals success and taking medication makes dieters lazy and cheats. However, diets have always promoted pleasure over suffering, and many diets aim to eliminate hunger altogether (such as the 1966 Martinis and Whipped Cream diet or the historic 1972 Atkins "no-hunger diet"). Furthermore, the weight loss industry has always been focused on achieving results by any means necessary, with little concern for integrity to compromise.
Rebekah Carl injects herself with her weekly dose of Wegovy in New Columbia, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 13, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah Beier
Hannah Beier/Reuters
Ozempic, Wegovy not associated with higher risk of suicidal ideation in large review of US health records
The tragic history of diet drugs can be seen in examples such as the introduction of the thyroid gland extract Marmola in 1907, which remained popular despite causing harmful side effects. The deadly dinitrophenol (DNP) was only stopped in 1938 when it was labeled as "extremely dangerous" by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Amphetamines, methamphetamines, and the drug fen-phen were also promoted as simple solutions for weight loss, only to be later withdrawn due to harmful effects.
The approach to exercise has evolved significantly over time. In the 18th and 19th centuries, fitness enthusiasts recommended activities such as sailing, rocking, fishing, and massage, as well as trips to Turkish baths and rides in horse-drawn carriages. John Harvey Kellogg promoted passive exercise, creating vibrating machines that moved the body while the user remained still. He claimed that 20 minutes of vibration could stimulate the body as much as a 4-mile walk. By the 1950s, weight-loss salons were offering "passive exercise" programs that were compared to a rigorous workout or 36 holes of golf. One such salon, Slenderella, even labeled "diet" as a forbidden word.
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In today's modern world, obesity medications may appear to be a miracle cure, but the reality is that for some individuals, the weight loss results can be more moderate than extraordinary. It is common to experience plateaus and it can be disheartening. If a dieter stops their weekly injectable, the weight often returns.
It's expensive, uncomfortable, and can lead to side effects such as gastrointestinal problems, some of which are as serious as stomach paralysis or bowel obstruction. In this light, semaglutide is not the weight loss miracle it may seem to be.
Even if taking semaglutide were equally as difficult as diet and exercise, diets are not meant to be a test of endurance. Why do we glorify suffering as courageous? There's nothing honorable about enduring a diet, especially to conform to fleeting beauty standards and the pursuit of a thinner body.
Oprah and the millions of other Americans taking prescription semaglutide and similar medications deserve respect and should not be ridiculed for their choices, whether they involve medication or dietary decisions.
