Let’s face it: weight is a universal issue that can affect anyone. Obesity has spawned a multibillion-dollar industry in which seriously overweight people can do everything from taking over-the-counter “cures” to undergoing major surgical procedures. But even those with all the money in the world have yet to find the perfect solution. Just look at these nine celebrities known for their yo-yo dieting.
Oprah Winfrey
She’s the reigning talk-show queen, but she’s also been the poster woman for yo-yo dieting for years. As a matter of fact, one of Oprah’s most memorable on-air moments involved her wheeling out a wagon full of animal fat to represent the amount of weight she had lost at the time. She’s since maintained a healthy weight, but it’s hard not to think about that wagon sometimes when looking at her.
Jessica Simpson
One bad photo in a pair of unflattering jeans took Simpson from buxom singer to just another celebrity with a weight problem, according to gossip columns. The singer-actress did her best to take the hurtful comments in stride, losing and regaining weight along the way. As she told Oprah Winfrey in March, “I’m comfortable with me. I love my curves. I’m not ever going to be a size 0 and weigh ninety pounds.”
Janet Jackson
As a kid, Jackson was the female version of her famous brother Michael, only she acted. By the time she kick-started her singing career, she was considered the hefty Jackson. As her popularity soared, her weight dropped and she became a sex symbol. But when she’s not on tour, she’s been known to seriously let herself go—at least, until her next album drops.
Britney Spears
When Spears hit the pop scene in 1999, she was just as recognized for her rockin’ bod as she was for her music. Sadly, the new millennium—which has included two kids, a divorce, and a mental breakdown—has not been kind to Britney’s body, and she’s taken many tabloid hits for packing on the pounds. She’s proven to be resilient, though, fighting back against the bulge and even the public’s perception by regaining a sleeker profile.
