Tragic Details About Oprah Winfrey

Being in the public eye means being judged all the time, but sometimes, the most cynical voice comes not from the outside, but the inside. Oprah Winfrey has been on countless magazine covers lauding her for her weight loss, but just as quick to condemn a few extra pounds are the tabloids. She's been candid about the impact that's had on her, and CNN looked back on an incident that happened in 1998. Despondent over a poor reception to a segment on her show and to her movie, she went to her chef and requested mac-and-cheese — and a lot of it. "I ate about 30 pounds worth. I'm not kidding. I really, literally, went into a tailspin with it."

It was the year after that happened that she interviewed author Gary Zukav about emotion-fueled binge eating, and had a breakthrough of her own: "I thought I just wanted some macaroni. I didn't connect the powerlessness until just this moment."

Winfrey has since shared her other realizations, too, saying that not only did she turn to food when she felt helpless, but in 2017, she spoke with Good Housekeeping to say that "[My weight] 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."

If you need help with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).

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