Weight-Loss Shame & Oprah: Breaking Down the Barriers
Oprah Winfrey is known for sharing many parts of her personal life, including her battle with weight loss. Now she says she’s “done with the shaming” and has admitted to using weight-loss injectables. While weight-loss drugs and injectables can be an effective short-term strategy, the long-term success and safety are still being researched and is unknown.
Oprah added that she struggled with her weight for five decades and originally avoided using weight-loss injectables, trying to lose weight on her own. She then came to realize it could be a tool in her weight-loss journey. "The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for. I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself."
Shaming Effects
Oprah is just one of many people who suffer from the shame surrounding excess weight and weight loss. The team at New York Bariatric Group says there is a misconception that obesity is a lifestyle choice or a lack of willpower, adding that when the world accepts the fact that obesity is a disease, the shame will start to dissipate.
Weight shaming can be very harmful for patients trying to lose weight:
- It can delay treatment as patients try to do it on their own.
- It can lead patients to seek medications in unsafe ways because they are too embarrassed to ask medical professionals for help.
NYBG says patients are sometimes shamed for using injectables because others may feel it’s the easy way out of treating their obesity. Patients struggling with weight loss can experience many emotions including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Body shaming
- Body dysmorphia
Speaking with psychologists trained in obesity can be helpful. Support groups are also a great way to feel validated. While online support groups are convenient and can be helpful, be sure to discuss any questions you have with your doctor, as many mistruths can be passed along on social media.
New York Bariatric Group: Weight Loss Leader
NYBG is the leader in comprehensive weight-loss solutions. We are a one-stop shop, offering long-term weight-loss surgery as well as medically-supervised weight loss such as medications and injectables. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to losing weight. At NYBG, we work with you to customize a weight-loss program that will work best for you.
Weight-loss drugs and injectables have been shown to be an effective short-term strategy, but the long term effects and safety is still unknown. With our Medical Weight Loss Program the ongoing supervision allows doctors to make necessary adjustments to a patient’s treatment plan based on their progress and changes to their health.
Weight-loss surgery is the only proven long-term weight-loss solution. With decades of research, patients have seen sustainable weight loss. We offer multiple weight-loss surgery procedures and our doctors will work with you to find the right option.
Our practice is the best around:
- Over 30 surgeons who are leaders in bariatrics, plastic surgery, veins, and medical weight loss.
- 42,000 successful procedures performed with more every day
The #1 gastric balloon practice by volume – most balloons placed in the United States - Access to online seminars, support groups, cooking demos, and Q-and-A sessions
- 100s of videos for patients explaining procedures, answering common questions, and
showcasing previous patients - Multiple offices located in three states; NY, NJ, CT
- Offering in-person and virtual consultations
- Since 2000, we boast over 23 years of success!
All of our hospitals are Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) accredited facilities, which is a prestigious designation bestowed upon only the top-quality bariatric programs.
Stop waiting; start achieving better health today. Together, we’ve got this!
