Writers Scaachi Koul and Gianluca Russo join Elamin to give their thoughts on the part Oprah Winfrey played in creating today’s weight loss industry and whether her new message will stick with audiences. Oprah Winfrey has created an empire over the past four decades. She's the host of a successful daytime talk show that aired for 25 seasons. She also has a TV network, a lifestyle magazine and has received 18 Daytime Emmy Awards.
Now, Oprah's asking us to embrace ourselves as we are. In the Weight Watchers special she hosted a week ago called, she declared, "We've been shamed and we've been told that unless we meet a certain standard of size, we didn't deserve to be accepted or even to be loved. I'm done with it. I'm done with the shaming"
To unpack the role Oprah has played in the conversation around toxic diet culture and weight loss, writers Scaachi Koul and Gianluca Russo join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud onWe've included some highlights below, edited for length and clarity. For the full discussion, plus a chat about the revival of X-men '97,I want to begin with maybe a personal question for each of you. Gianluca, Oprah has been the face of diet culture for a long time. Since well before you were born.