For the past 25 years, Oprah Winfrey has been a part a presence in our television rooms every day. While we love many things about the queen of talk show, one of the qualities we related to so easily in her was Oprah’s honest and very tumultuous battle with her own weight. Over the years, we have cheered Oprah on as she lost 40 pounds with the help of Bob Greene and we may have even shed a tear or two as she admitted that she let the wagon fall on her as she regained weight over and over again.
Struggles with food, body image and body weight are as American as apple pie. Throughout Oprah’s 24 seasons, she has introduced us to people whose love of apple pie catapulted into a true food addiction. Oprah not only had first-hand experience of this, but she also saw her own personal story play out in front of thousands of Americans, who wrestled with similar issues and turned to food for the same emotional comfort as she did.
Within each of these weight loss stories is a story of hope, will and strength of spirit that extends far beyond counting calories or the number of steps walked.
From ordinary but extraordinary Americans to celebrities like Kirstie Alley and Oprah herself, here is a slide show of 12 of the most memorable weight loss stories profiled on Oprah over the years.
