Oprah and Friends take on NYC
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
By: Stephanie Woods Mckinney
The 92nd Street Y continues to bring new and exciting celebrity guests to its tight-knit community uptown in New York City. The world-class cultural center has outdone itself with meaningful, educational, entertaining, and heartfelt discussions. In January, media mogul, philanthropist, television producer, host, and all-around powerhouse Oprah Winfrey made a special guest appearance with friends.
Oprah, her best friend Gayle King, and Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff—an endocrinologist specializing in obesity—are traveling and appearing together to promote Dr. Jastreboff’s new book, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like to Be Free. 92NY hosted a moderated conversation to discuss the book, which focuses on understanding your biology. Oprah has been advocating for those struggling with weight issues for years and is working tirelessly to share her knowledge about weight gain, aiming to remove the shame and stigma surrounding obesity. According to Dr. Jastreboff, weight struggles are critically important, and understanding your biology can help combat the illness.
Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff is an obesity expert at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. She is collaborating with Oprah in hopes of shifting the perspective most people have regarding weight. Based on her scientific research, our biological makeup deeply impacts our weight, and her revelations are changing the way the medical community views obesity. Oprah is leading efforts to raise awareness and foster greater understanding of the disease.
During the event, Oprah and Gayle shared a sisterhood conversation that spans more than 50 years, dating back to their late teens. Oprah recalled times when they would go to the mall, and all she cared about was the food court. Gayle, who didn’t worry about her weight at the time, realized as she aged that her waistline was changing. She decided to support Oprah’s weight loss journey and to embark on her own path alongside her.
Oprah, a media powerhouse and passionate advocate for numerous social issues, finds purpose in sharing her challenges and triumphs related to her weight. Teaming up with Dr. Jastreboff was especially therapeutic for her mental health.
As a highly respected influencer, Oprah’s name—often associated with the “Oprah Effect”—is sure to help the book become a bestseller in 2026. Her efforts aim to change lives by removing shame from body image, promoting the message that “it’s not what you eat, it’s who you are,” and encouraging readers to explore and understand their “why.”
