Oprah Reveals the Truth Behind Her 40-Pound

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 9, 2008

CHICAGO, IL — Oprah Winfrey opens up about her recent 40-pound weight gain and reveals intimate details about her struggle to stay in shape after being diagnosed with a thyroid problem in the January issue of O, The Oprah Magazine and in a special episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show airing Monday, January 5, 2009. Both kick off Oprah's Best Life Week—a multiplatform, company-wide event designed to help readers, viewers, listeners and online users confront the issues in their own lives and make a commitment to wake up and unlock their own personal happiness in 2009. 

First, Oprah appears on the January cover of O, The Oprah Magazine at her current weight juxtaposed next to an image of her thinner self along with the cover line “How did I let this happen again?” In the story, Oprah says, “I’m mad at myself. I’m embarrassed. I can’t believe that after all these years, I’m still talking about my weight.” She adds, “When it comes to maintaining my health, I didn’t just fall off the wagon. I let the wagon fall on me.” The January issue of O, The Oprah Magazine is on newsstands this week. 

Next, on January 5, Oprah’s Best Life Week comes to television as Oprah opens up in a must-watch episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. In an intensely personal and revelatory interview, Oprah says, “All the money and all the fame and all of the attention ... it doesn’t mean anything if you can’t fit into your clothes.” Plus, she talks about the reality check she received from Bob Greene and how a thyroid problem contributed to her setback, saying, “I think psychologically the moment I heard that I have a thyroid problem I just thought, 'Well, I don't even know how you fight this because it doesn't matter how hard you exercise.' ... So I had just about given up on myself. I had just about given up on myself last year.” 

In addition, Oprah discusses how she and viewers who have fallen off the weight wagon can get back on track for 2009. Says Oprah: “It is all about telling the truth. I just believe that you're always better off if you just come clean. I'm facing this [weight gain] in my own life, so I'm sure other people are also facing this too. So we have turned it into something that could be of service to our viewers and our readers.” 

Throughout January, the combined power of O, The Oprah Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah.com and Oprah Radio Radio will present exclusive Oprah’s Best Life Series content designed to help start the new year with a renewed commitment to health, wellness, financial stability, spiritual insight and sexual awakening. A full listing of activities follows:

The Oprah Winfrey Show
• Monday, January 5 – Your Weight  
It's the show everyone will be talking about. In a candid conversation, Oprah comes clean about falling off the weight wagon with guest Bob Greene.

• Tuesday, January 6 – Your Health
“America’s Doctor” Dr. Mehmet Oz  joins Oprah for the Ultimate Health Checklist for 2009 to help viewers get their health in check in the new year. 

• Wednesday, January 7 – Your Spirituality 
Oprah meets with spiritual leaders the Rev. Ed Bacon, the Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith and Elizabeth Lesser  to discuss the many ways to get in touch with your spiritual side. 

• Thursday, January 8 – Your Money
Personal finance expert Suze Orman  shows viewers how to create a Financial Action Plan for 2009 and offers not-to-be-missed advice for tough economic times. 

• Friday, January 9 – Your Relationships 
Call it Sex 101. Sex therapist Dr. Laura Berman, Oprah and our studio audience have a frank, no-holds-barred discussion for mature audiences only about getting more out of your sex life in 2009. 

Oprah.com
Oprah.com presents a special week of live webcasts with Oprah and her guest experts as they take questions from a worldwide online audience: 
• Monday, January 12 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – Bob Greene

• Tuesday, January 13 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – Dr. Oz

• Wednesday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – Elizabeth Lesser

• Thursday, January 15 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – Suze Orman

• Friday, January 16 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT – Dr. Laura Berman 

Reserve your seat today! 

Oprah Radio Radio on XM Channel 156 and Sirius Channel 195
Satellite radio subscribers can also join the Oprah’s Best Life Series, with hours of all-new programming  across the entire schedule and kicking off with an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey on Gayle King's show on Monday, January 5.  Oprah’s Best Life Week experts will also stop by throughout the week to give valuable advice and take questions from listeners.  

Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number-one–rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com, a premier lifestyle website. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine. Harpo Films, Inc. produces feature films and top-rated telefilms. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195) on Sirius XM Radio. A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multiplatform media company, will debut in late 2009 or early 2010 in approximately 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.