My Weight Was My Shield & My Shame...But Now I Feel Liberated

She is one of the most famous women on the planet but, like so many others, OPRAH WINFREY seems to have fought a real battle with her weight. In this exclusive interview with GH, the TV queen explains how she discovered the secret to eating well and finally won the war….

- Jessica Callan

IS THERE ANY OTHER woman more instantly recognisable than Oprah Winfrey? She may be America’s TV royalty, but her fame and influence stretch across the globe. Her talk show was the highest rated in the world. She is an Oscar-nominated actress, an award-winning author and a multibillionaire media mogul. But Oprah is also an outstanding philanthropist, helping young women who would otherwise be deprived of an education to get an inspired start in life. Now, to this impressive list, she has added cookbook author. Food, Health And Happiness (Pan Macmillan) is the story of her changed lifestyle – and the recipes that helped her reshape her eating habits and lose more than 20kg. In our interview, Oprah is as down to earth and as honest as she is on screen, flicking through the cookery book to show us her favourite recipes. She explains why food is no longer a battleground, how she shed the kilos and why she is the happiest she has ever been….

The book is a very honest account of your struggles with being overweight. What prompted it?

I first lost weight after fasting in 1988, and got letters from people saying we don’t like you anymore because you are no longer like us. That really affected me. But I can see how being overweight subconsciously served me. We all use it in different ways. It has been the go-to comfort for me. You use it as your coat and your shield, and it keeps you from doing things. You don’t have to go to that party because you don’t have a dress to wear and nothing is going to fit you. But the wonderful thing for me is that I reached a point where I no longer wanted to hide. I know that sounds strange for somebody who is in the public eye, but it was my shield and my shame.

Tell us about Food, Health And Happiness….