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Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like To Be Free
For her entire adult life, Oprah Winfrey has struggled with her weight. She never thought in her lifetime, medicines would provide hope, health, and healing for people like her. But as her conversations with Dr. Ania Jastreboff from the Yale School of Medicine reveal, we’ve learned that having obesity is not a choice. It’s not a question of willpower.Obesity is a disease.
It’s a biological challenge, created by the intersection of our inherent need to survive and the environment we created and now live in.
And it’s treatable.
The new medications can lower our body fat set point (our brain’s “Enough Point”), so that we lose weight without battling biology with willpower. Dr. Jastreboff describes strategies to optimize health and manage side effects all with the reassuring perspective of decades of experience treating patients with obesity and leading studies with these medications.
Many of her patients say the “food noise” that plagued them for years has evaporated. They describe a new freedom from intrusive, persistent, and disruptive thoughts about food. With treatment they begin a journey of healing with self-compassion, devoid of the shame and blame they’ve endured from society for decades.
Oprah says she’s learned so much from Dr. Jastreboff about how, when it comes to weight, our bodies work with us—and also against us. How each of our struggles are different and each of our choices in living with obesity may also be different.
Dr. Jastreboff’s groundbreaking research offers a new way forward, not only for obesity treatment, but for overall health, with significant implications for the prevention and reversal of hundreds of related diseases. As she demonstrates in this book, when science meets empathy, real healing becomes possible.
Yes, there is a path to healing and leading the life you have always wanted, when your brain is reassured that you have “enough”.
It’s a biological challenge, created by the intersection of our inherent need to survive and the environment we created and now live in.
And it’s treatable.
The new medications can lower our body fat set point (our brain’s “Enough Point”), so that we lose weight without battling biology with willpower. Dr. Jastreboff describes strategies to optimize health and manage side effects all with the reassuring perspective of decades of experience treating patients with obesity and leading studies with these medications.
Many of her patients say the “food noise” that plagued them for years has evaporated. They describe a new freedom from intrusive, persistent, and disruptive thoughts about food. With treatment they begin a journey of healing with self-compassion, devoid of the shame and blame they’ve endured from society for decades.
Oprah says she’s learned so much from Dr. Jastreboff about how, when it comes to weight, our bodies work with us—and also against us. How each of our struggles are different and each of our choices in living with obesity may also be different.
Dr. Jastreboff’s groundbreaking research offers a new way forward, not only for obesity treatment, but for overall health, with significant implications for the prevention and reversal of hundreds of related diseases. As she demonstrates in this book, when science meets empathy, real healing becomes possible.
Yes, there is a path to healing and leading the life you have always wanted, when your brain is reassured that you have “enough”.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 13, 2026
1005 people are currently reading
806 people want to read
About the author
Oprah Winfrey
111 books5,455 followersOprah Gail Winfrey, also known mononymously as Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, broadcast from Chicago, which ran in national syndication for 25 years, from 1986 to 2011. Dubbed the "Queen of All Media", she was the richest African-American of the 20th century and was once the world's only black billionaire. By 2007, she was often ranked as the most influential woman in the world.
Winfrey was born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a single teenage mother and later raised in inner-city Milwaukee. She has stated that she was molested during her childhood and early teenage years and became pregnant at 14; her son was born prematurely and died in infancy. Winfrey was then sent to live with the man she calls her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber in Nashville, Tennessee, and landed a job in radio while still in high school. By 19, she was a co-anchor for the local evening news. Winfrey's often emotional, extemporaneous delivery eventually led to her transfer to the daytime talk show arena, and after boosting a third-rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production company.
Credited with creating a more intimate, confessional form of media communication, Winfrey popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre pioneered by Phil Donahue. By the mid-1990s, Winfrey had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, mindfulness, and spirituality. Though she has been criticized for unleashing a confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas, and having an emotion-centered approach, she has also been praised for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others. Winfrey also emerged as a political force in the 2008 presidential race, with her endorsement of Barack Obama estimated to have been worth about one million votes during the 2008 Democratic primaries. In the same year, she formed her own network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In 2013, Winfrey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
In 1994, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Then in October, she finished the Marine Corps Marathon in less than four and a half hours. She has received honorary doctorate degrees from multiple universities. Winfrey has won many awards throughout her career, including 19 Daytime Emmy Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman's Award), two Primetime Emmy Awards (including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award), a Tony Award, a Peabody Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award awarded by the Academy Awards, in addition to two competitive Academy Award nominations. Winfrey was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.
Winfrey was born into poverty in rural Mississippi to a single teenage mother and later raised in inner-city Milwaukee. She has stated that she was molested during her childhood and early teenage years and became pregnant at 14; her son was born prematurely and died in infancy. Winfrey was then sent to live with the man she calls her father, Vernon Winfrey, a barber in Nashville, Tennessee, and landed a job in radio while still in high school. By 19, she was a co-anchor for the local evening news. Winfrey's often emotional, extemporaneous delivery eventually led to her transfer to the daytime talk show arena, and after boosting a third-rated local Chicago talk show to first place, she launched her own production company.
Credited with creating a more intimate, confessional form of media communication, Winfrey popularized and revolutionized the tabloid talk show genre pioneered by Phil Donahue. By the mid-1990s, Winfrey had reinvented her show with a focus on literature, self-improvement, mindfulness, and spirituality. Though she has been criticized for unleashing a confession culture, promoting controversial self-help ideas, and having an emotion-centered approach, she has also been praised for overcoming adversity to become a benefactor to others. Winfrey also emerged as a political force in the 2008 presidential race, with her endorsement of Barack Obama estimated to have been worth about one million votes during the 2008 Democratic primaries. In the same year, she formed her own network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). In 2013, Winfrey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
In 1994, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. Then in October, she finished the Marine Corps Marathon in less than four and a half hours. She has received honorary doctorate degrees from multiple universities. Winfrey has won many awards throughout her career, including 19 Daytime Emmy Awards (including the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman's Award), two Primetime Emmy Awards (including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award), a Tony Award, a Peabody Award, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award awarded by the Academy Awards, in addition to two competitive Academy Award nominations. Winfrey was elected as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
January 14, 2026
To be clear, this is not a book about Oprah. She is only a small part of this book. It is about obesity as a disease and treating this disease with modern medicine, namely GLP-1s in all their forms. A well-written book--technical at times--but it's easy to gloss over those sections. The medical world is finally getting it!
January 20, 2026
Sadly, I’m really disappointed in this book. I’ve had it on pre-order for months and, based on the interviews and podcasts I’ve seen with Dr. Ania and Oprah on this topic I had such high hopes for it. But it’s missing a huge piece of the puzzle in my opinion…the mental health component of obesity. The book is very clinically/medically focused which I get since it was written by a doctor, but I would have liked to have heard more from Oprah in it. More like the book she co-wrote with Dr Perry. Better yet, it it could have been co-authored by a psychologist that would have added a critical dimension on the topic. She does mention briefly that 40% of people with obesity have depression and even more have anxiety. What are the links between childhood trauma and severe obesity? They’re significant…I’ve seen stats on them. GLP1s will help but unless the mental and emotional component is also addressed it’s only one puzzle piece to a very complex puzzle. More needs to be explored and discussed openly on that aspect of this topic.
January 25, 2026
Sadly, one long ad for the use of GLP-1 drugs. No, thank you!
January 29, 2026
This book meant a lot to me and helped me to understand a lot about my own experiences. I loved that it was written primarily from a scientific standpoint. With so much shame and guilt and blame wrapped up in living with obesity, it was an absolute revelation to understand why and how the disease itself works as well as how these new medications can help. I loved the anecdotal stories about Dr Ania’s patients and I even enjoyed the personal experiences from Oprah. I am not a huge Oprah fan but found myself fully relating to her experiences in a way I never imagined I would.
January 22, 2026
I think this a great book that discusses the disease of obesity and the medications that help to treat obesity. If you have any questions about GLP medication that have become popular, this book will properly educate you. I also feel if you have someone you love who is obese or overweight and you want to understand their condition better…read or listen to this book. If you feel shame because you are looking into medication to help with obesity, please read this book and set yourself free. The science you learn helps you understand your body and ongoing struggle some legitimately have with weight. Oprah does co-author and shares her personal experience. She was extremely candid with her journey and aims to inspire others to change their perspective on obesity. Dr Ania was a pleasure to learn from and write the bulk of this book.
January 23, 2026
Required reading in my opinion before you formulate an opinion on GLP drugs!
January 31, 2026
There is a lot of support in this book for people who have struggled with their weight most of their lives. Myself included. Clearly the book was written to get people to jump on the bandwagon and take the GLP-1: I am not one of them. It will be interesting to see what the long term effects from this drug will be.
January 22, 2026
Obesity is a disease
Thank goodness there is a book with collected research that states with certainty that OBESITY IS A DISEASE. When I lost 55 lbs with the help of GLP1, I shared my success with everybody. There is not one person on high blood pressure medicine who carries shame and blame about their blood pressure.
The more I read that GLP1 helps reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, lowers cholesterol, etc. the more of an advocate I became in what can we do to cap the price of these drugs. Why are we waiting until we have obesity and hope that our BMI is so high that our insurance will have to cover the price before we start? With my insurance, it was still going to be $1000+ because I DIDN’T have diabetes. This is INSANE. I was not sick enough to get healthy. There needs to be a price cap on GLP1 like insulin. This will be my new cause.
The ENOUGH POINT had me in tears. Although I am in no way considering stopping the medication while I am going through this transitional period of my life, I was glad that biology reinforced my decision. To think that my body is going to continue to want to go back to 180 lbs is not a risk I want to take.
The impetus for me to start GLP1 was my 60th birthday. At 60, I knew I did not want to carry extra weight with me as I aged. I was pleasantly surprised that I had a goal weight of 145 but easily got down to 125 and have remained there for more than 6 months. Who would have believed that I would comfortably fit in a size 6? NOT ME! The first time I bought a size 6, I thought it was a sizing mistake, so I bought the pants for “shiggles.” Now that is my size. I easily buy off the rack. I wear small in most clothing.
The book is well presented, with a few Oprah stories sprinkled in, although Dr Ania narrates the majority of the book.
The quote I will take with me:
“It is just as easy to lose weight as it ever was to gain the weight!”
I listened to this audiobook in 2 days. But I need to go back and highlight a few sections so I have more terminology to refer to as I continue to spread the gospel of GLP1.
Thank goodness there is a book with collected research that states with certainty that OBESITY IS A DISEASE. When I lost 55 lbs with the help of GLP1, I shared my success with everybody. There is not one person on high blood pressure medicine who carries shame and blame about their blood pressure.
The more I read that GLP1 helps reduce the risk of heart disease, Alzheimer’s, lowers cholesterol, etc. the more of an advocate I became in what can we do to cap the price of these drugs. Why are we waiting until we have obesity and hope that our BMI is so high that our insurance will have to cover the price before we start? With my insurance, it was still going to be $1000+ because I DIDN’T have diabetes. This is INSANE. I was not sick enough to get healthy. There needs to be a price cap on GLP1 like insulin. This will be my new cause.
The ENOUGH POINT had me in tears. Although I am in no way considering stopping the medication while I am going through this transitional period of my life, I was glad that biology reinforced my decision. To think that my body is going to continue to want to go back to 180 lbs is not a risk I want to take.
The impetus for me to start GLP1 was my 60th birthday. At 60, I knew I did not want to carry extra weight with me as I aged. I was pleasantly surprised that I had a goal weight of 145 but easily got down to 125 and have remained there for more than 6 months. Who would have believed that I would comfortably fit in a size 6? NOT ME! The first time I bought a size 6, I thought it was a sizing mistake, so I bought the pants for “shiggles.” Now that is my size. I easily buy off the rack. I wear small in most clothing.
The book is well presented, with a few Oprah stories sprinkled in, although Dr Ania narrates the majority of the book.
The quote I will take with me:
“It is just as easy to lose weight as it ever was to gain the weight!”
I listened to this audiobook in 2 days. But I need to go back and highlight a few sections so I have more terminology to refer to as I continue to spread the gospel of GLP1.
January 26, 2026
very informative, a must read if you are contemplating any GLP medications, I hope we can change the culture around obesity .
January 22, 2026
I completed about 1/4 of the book. I wish i had understood that this book is written primarily from a scientific perspective with very little of Oprah’s experience. I think the interviews that have been shared with Oprah and Oprah’s experience in her weight loss battle are more interesting than the book. I can see that someone with weightloss struggles would have an “ahha” moment in realizing that willpower will not help them, as gaining weight, losing weight and maintaining have much more to do with your DNA and medical condition than we all have realized.
I wanted to finish the book, but it continued to be more and more and more about the science instead of Oprah’s process.
The book is well written and informative, although the analogies and information seem to be repeated again and again, to it detriment. I feel like once i hear an analogy, I understand it. This felt often like overkill explaining.
People interested in the science and understanding will love it.
I wanted to finish the book, but it continued to be more and more and more about the science instead of Oprah’s process.
The book is well written and informative, although the analogies and information seem to be repeated again and again, to it detriment. I feel like once i hear an analogy, I understand it. This felt often like overkill explaining.
People interested in the science and understanding will love it.
February 19, 2026
I recently read Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like to Be Free. I waited a couple of days before sitting down to write this because I needed time to let it all sink in.
This book was exactly what I didn’t even realize I needed. It blends deeply personal stories from people living with obesity with the science behind it — and the science was fascinating. I was surprised by how much I appreciated that part of the book. It added clarity and validation in a way I hadn’t expected.
It was also uncomfortable at times. Certain chapters brought back feelings of shame and embarrassment I thought I had moved past. But that discomfort felt purposeful, not exploitative. It felt honest.
It left me with more compassion for myself than I’ve felt in a long time. If you’ve ever felt stuck in shame around your body, this book offers a way forward.
This book was exactly what I didn’t even realize I needed. It blends deeply personal stories from people living with obesity with the science behind it — and the science was fascinating. I was surprised by how much I appreciated that part of the book. It added clarity and validation in a way I hadn’t expected.
It was also uncomfortable at times. Certain chapters brought back feelings of shame and embarrassment I thought I had moved past. But that discomfort felt purposeful, not exploitative. It felt honest.
It left me with more compassion for myself than I’ve felt in a long time. If you’ve ever felt stuck in shame around your body, this book offers a way forward.
January 29, 2026
Let me preface my review by saying that this book was NOT written by Oprah Winfrey, but by a top endocrinologist affiliated with Yale University who is specialized in obesity medicine and who participates in key clinical trials. Oprah contributes of her own experience with obesity in the Preface and with brief testimonials here and there.
“Enough” provides information on the latest in obesity medicine, research and medication: why we are experiencing an obesity epidemic, why dieting fails and the latest research on how the weight loss medication works. And of course, advice on how to use that information moving forward: the decision to take medication or not, and the optimal circumstances required to be successful with it.
A must read for anyone who battles the bulge, serial dieters and specially if your health is adversely affected by your size.
“Enough” provides information on the latest in obesity medicine, research and medication: why we are experiencing an obesity epidemic, why dieting fails and the latest research on how the weight loss medication works. And of course, advice on how to use that information moving forward: the decision to take medication or not, and the optimal circumstances required to be successful with it.
A must read for anyone who battles the bulge, serial dieters and specially if your health is adversely affected by your size.
March 3, 2026
Anyone who has or knows someone who has struggled w/ obesity should read this book (i.e. everyone!) Obesity is a chronic disease controlled largely by biology - it is NOT a character flaw. We have long known that diet, exercise, & willpower are not enough. Yet, the masses tell people every single day that their weight is their own fault. Making fun of people with obesity or overweight remains one of the last socially accepted forms of prejudice (as evidenced by comedian jokes, US President Donald Trump calling people “fat pigs”followed by small-minded supporters who clap, cheer, & laugh, Bill Maher suggesting “fat-shaming should make a comeback,” & Pete Hegseth’s disdain for “fat generals, admirals, & troops.”) Those examples are mild compared to the vitriolic hatred spewed out by cowards & trolls online. I’m hopeful books like this one will raise awareness & increase understanding of the biology of this chronic disease which affects >40% of Americans. Bravo to Dr. Jastreboff & Oprah for this exceptional book.
February 22, 2026
This book concisely explains the treatment options available for those struggling with obesity. The scientific jargon is presented in a completely relatable and common sense manner. The personal experiences of those involved are inspiring and helpful. Great resource for anyone interested in learning more about the disease of obesity. (Understanding that obesity is in fact a disease is a game changer in the entire approach to treating it. Once you fully grasp this concept everything becomes much more clear.)
January 29, 2026
Very informative about the GLP-1. I purchased it after watching a YouTube with Oprah and she had Serena Williams on the podcast and I had seen the RO ads with Serena and so hearing her struggles with weight and trying to work out more and more w/o loosing weight was encouraging. This book helps to debunk some of the myths around GLP-1 without being too medical. Would recommend for anyone wanting more info.
February 5, 2026
Audio Book - 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oprah’s weight-loss challenges were relateable and her narration was powerful and engaging. A scientific book on obesity and the benefits, side effects and evolution of GLP-1 medication. Some parts resonated with me, while others lost me in the science of a medication that I’m not interested in taking.
February 26, 2026
I read this book from several perspectives, as a healthcare professional, as a relative of someone with obesity and as some who could stand to lose a little weight. It was interesting to shift the dialogue around obesity from a blame game to understanding it as a treatable disease.
Oprah is a great spokesperson and example. I grew up watching her struggles and admittedly laughing at some of the jokes. In hindsight, I am no longer that child. I am happy that she has found a way to live her best life, free of the struggles and the roaring, deafening sounds of food noise.
She has gifted the world, her journey, successes and failures, and committed her notoriety to this book and to making the world a better place. There are not a lot of people of her stature that accomplish that.
This research is world changing and it is exciting to know that there is more to come.
Oprah is a great spokesperson and example. I grew up watching her struggles and admittedly laughing at some of the jokes. In hindsight, I am no longer that child. I am happy that she has found a way to live her best life, free of the struggles and the roaring, deafening sounds of food noise.
She has gifted the world, her journey, successes and failures, and committed her notoriety to this book and to making the world a better place. There are not a lot of people of her stature that accomplish that.
This research is world changing and it is exciting to know that there is more to come.
February 15, 2026
Science listen. Was wishing for more Oprah. She is only small part of book. Glp1 a game changer in obesity management. Have helped me and hope help many more and more people talk about. Look forward to when in my lifetime becomes a pill and maybe addresses more receptors than just 1 or 2.
February 11, 2026
Excellent read and I see my diabetic doctor next week with alot of questions & concerns!
February 12, 2026
This book made me feel validated and helped me understand that I have not failed at losing and keeping off weight.
The science is finally out there to explain obesity as a disease. The explanation of why my biology (and others with obesity) prevents me from losing weight despite proper diet and exercise.
I feel hopeful that there is treatment for obesity, despite the advances in medicine and in our healthcare system still needed to make care accessible and affordable.
The science is finally out there to explain obesity as a disease. The explanation of why my biology (and others with obesity) prevents me from losing weight despite proper diet and exercise.
I feel hopeful that there is treatment for obesity, despite the advances in medicine and in our healthcare system still needed to make care accessible and affordable.
January 29, 2026
I could relate to SO much of this book and am SO glad to understand obesity through a scientific lense and read the experiences of individuals who are very similar to me
January 24, 2026
This was a mixed bag for me. while there was information here that hit very hard and made me quite emotional, there was also boring sections that seemed included just to hit a page count. Your enjoyment will depend on your history with the subject I think.
January 31, 2026
This was a very educational book to listen to. First of all I want to say that I appreciate the transparency of it. Giving both pros and cons to starting obesity medications, side effects, even the additional research that still needs to be done. Second I want to say that I’ve never felt more understood when it comes to battling weight and a difficult relationship with food. I teared up listening to the struggles and the chapter on food noise felt as if someone had tapped into my internal dialogue. This book made me even more sympathetic towards people who struggle even more than I do. Our bodies are so imperfect it makes sense that genetics are out of balance too, even when it comes to weight. I recommend this book to anyone who is currently struggling or someone who wants to know more about these new medications. In the end medical decisions are personal and this book at the very least can help someone know that they are not alone.
February 6, 2026
eye opening
Every doctor prescribing these drugs and all taking it should read this. These drugs are not just about weight loss. They are about so much more and Dr Ania describes it well.
Every doctor prescribing these drugs and all taking it should read this. These drugs are not just about weight loss. They are about so much more and Dr Ania describes it well.
February 26, 2026
Not an infomercial....rather, a prescription drug commercial that never ends.
February 9, 2026
“Overeating does not cause obesity; obesity causes overeating”
On page 99, this statement about biology driving behavior by Dr. Lee Kaplan seems to me to sum up the point of this book. While Oprah wrote the preface & adds a short comment occasionally, this is basically Dr. Ania Jastreboff’s book and perspective on obesity; how the biology of this disease will always try to bring the sufferer back to what she calls the “Enough Point” (set point) and the approach of the newish popular GLP-1 agonist medicines (Wegovy, Ozempic, etc.) in treating this biologically based disease. While there certainly are many out there who can diet/exercise/change mental habits or even do therapy or 12 step programs to lose weight, for those with obesity as a disease, she contends that these will not work (at least in the long run). She delves into the why and how.
I, like so many folks these days, have my own opinions about these drugs and I can’t say the book changed a whole lot of them. But I will review what I read, then add my two cents.
Dr. J is one of the top scientific research doctors in the field of obesity medicine, not some “celebrity doctor” who happened to team up with Oprah on this book (in case you were wondering). Her story of how she got into obesity medicine is compassionate and grounded. As she grew up, over time she watched her brilliant father become unable to control his eating and weight, and accumulate diseases of obesity. She didn’t blame him for not being able to control his food intake nor weight; even when young she saw this as something that must have biologic bases. She has followed the path of trying to figure this out for many years.
What I appreciate the most about this book is the “de-shaming.” Oprah is out there waving this banner (even as she admits she contributed to it for years), and Dr. J also emphasizes that the best of intentions cannot overcome the biology of obesity, no more than the same would do for blood pressure or diabetes issues (which require drugs for many, and not temporarily). Obesity is simply a disease which needs lifelong treatment by drugs (in her opinion). She herself, and other doctors she quotes, make the scientific case for that. They hope that
…we might shift the narrative about this disease…away from shame and blame to compassionate care; understanding that obesity is a…biological problem, not a behavioral or personal failure. This is hugely important.
She emphasizes continuing “care” (medication):
…obesity is a chronic condition requiring continued treatment and care. Patients who have for decades assumed the personal responsibility of trying to ‘control’ their weight might find themselves thinking that it is their responsibility to sustain the lower weight…But weight loss does not mean a cure.…if effective medications are stopped…the weight is pulled back up. (to set point).
So I think for many of us (and this is one area where I did learn something to change my beliefs) these drugs seem like “failures” because we assume they are “weight loss drugs” that should fix the issue and then not be needed if they actually “work,” rather than lifelong treatments of a disease state.
She goes on to explain how these drugs came to be (Gila monsters are involved!). If you are very interested in the origins, workings, side effects, and also other obesity treatment drugs in the pipeline, this is your book. She also sprinkles in patient stories and how she works with them.
She discusses the phases of these drugs effects upon a body: once the right weight is achieved, the body will gain some hunger back and be more normalized from the nearly total lack of hunger that many experience at first. Some may find this upsetting if they are not working with a good practitioner to understand this.
She writes of newfound freedom from constant food thoughts for clients that had never had that freedom. If you haven’t had this issue, you can’t begin to even imagine the real and deep hell of this problem. To be free of this must feel nothing short of miraculous.
Oprah speaks of this
We all want to live out the truest, purest, highest possibility of ourselves…And what this medicine allows me to do is to reach another level of that…without having to strive for it, battle for it, fight my own self for it, it’s just here, because all of the crap, the angst, the cloudiness, the fuzziness, the worry that I’ve spent on my weight—that’s energy.
Dr. J says
To this day, it’s still so encouraging to witness patients who are no longer mired in the intense, intrusive, persistent disruptive food noise of their past.
She understands how hard most of these people have tried, with diet after diet, strict regimes of exercise, and all sorts of gimmicks to try to control the problem…and shame as the results of failing. And how well do the sufferers know these sometimes decades of trying so hard and failing! Consider the world’s richest woman, who pulled herself up by her bootstraps, fought intense sexism and racism in her field, and nonetheless built an empire (& who also hikes many miles a day and lifts weights)—is Oprah undisciplined? Biology is not about willpower.
The author also expresses alarm at the way these medications are being used as “weight loss aids” for even thin folks. Chalk that up to our nutty culture and body image issues. Many of these drugs are now being produced by unscrupulous merchants and are dangerous—buyer beware! The valid medications are not meant to be “temporary weight loss drugs.” Again, they are to treat an ongoing medical condition.
Do you know anyone (maybe even yourself) whose life has been changed for the better by antidepressants? I always feel amazed that I never have seen the comparison made: yes, for depression: some people can benefit from therapy, some from other approaches (exercise, acupuncture, nutrition, hormone treatment), but many benefit from mood drugs (alongside or separately). I personally feel the obesity drugs are similar: that many mind and body causes can exist; drugs are most certainly not for all; but for some, life-changing.
I was curious to read this book as I have had both this condition and other chronic conditions which have made me intrigued with aspects of health, healing, and medicine. But I was most particularly interested in the “de-shaming” aspect.
I found the book, though, very disappointing and boring. Although the book has a lot of science, I found it not scientific enough. What do I mean by that?
Well, the doctor states more than once that it’s our current obesogenic (my word, not hers) environment (junk food, busyness, stress, toxins) creating dysregulation in the setpoint for many people, but that is a far as she goes. In one place she says that HALF of Americans would medically qualify for these drugs. That seems insane to me. Why are not the other factors here looked at? Why are the GLP and GIP pathways the only ones addressed? What about nutrient deficiencies, depression causing these issues, toxins pushing the body to obesity? Why is there no curiosity on her part as to why many binge eaters with ADHD lose their bingeing when treated for ADHD? Or many depressives treated with anti-depressants likewise? What about those who need thyroid treatment to have relief? There are so many possible causes, and so many factors that even she mentions. Yet, like so much of mainstream medicine, there is zero synthetic nor integrative viewpoint here at all: simply “you need these medicines.” This incredibly narrow, blinders-on worldview, I have to admit, makes me want to scream. The book is boring because there is nothing curious, innovative, nor holistic in its viewpoint.
Yet, I know that’s not the scope of this book in any manner whatsoever. It’s to explain these drugs. To justify them, to let Oprah have her say of how they’ve helped her and may help others. Oprah’s preface starts the book, with chilling examples in her life of how she has been the shame target about weight in this culture for decades. So now she is free; wants to share the good news, but also wants to probably defend her life of being blamed and shamed forever. Good for her, as in interviews she is constantly stating that now, at age 72, she’s living her best life.
But the problem with such a book is: these drugs may be amazing for Oprah, but are far from the answer for many people. The author downplays the huge side effects (some can be life threatening), stating that is true with all drugs (does that make them good? Or right for all?). She also emphasizes how they work closely with patients to change drug types, dosing, etc., if needed. But how many patients will be seen at clinics like hers? Not even 1% will have doctors with that scope of knowledge and skillset about these drugs.
It's amazing to me (& seems like malpractice) that patients are not first screened for hormonal issues, nutrient deficiencies (though--blame in part big industry insurance, where pharma is king & nutrients are ignored), low instead of high blood sugar, and other simple, fundamental issues & possible fixes first. The GLP-1 pathways are far from the only reason for weight and food noise. In these and other scenarios, these drugs at best are neutral (though far from undamaging when it comes to people's hope) and at worst, dangerous.
And there are many for whom these drugs simply will not work. This is a huge issue too. A dear friend works in the therapeutic weight loss field and is seeing deeply distraught people when this latest “last hope” craze doesn’t work for them (or the side effects intolerable).
This book & these medicines simply don’t address the real root causes of a good percentage of obesity, if it’s often about environment, toxicity, inflammation from junk food and stress, and/or other hormones (which the author states more than once). Thus, being a stopgap measure for many, the effectiveness or long-term ability to use them could be as limited as other past “miracles.” We don’t yet know what the outcomes or downsides over time will be; we shall see.
For many folks, these medications are truly a miracle. But, for all of the reasons I state and many I don't know of, Dr. Jastreboff's "one-size-fits-all" (pun not intended) oversimplified viewpoint is going to let down many sufferers.
I understand from this book how hard these researchers and doctors have worked in this area. But it’s a very incredibly narrow way to approach the obesity issue. I wholeheartedly (& from experience) agree it is often far more deeply physiological than something diets, therapy, or similar interventions might address. The biology must be front and center for many people. But I do not buy that these medications are the best choice for many or most.
However, there is hope if these medications cause the world to finally begin to understand how this physical problem is physical, not one of willpower, nor one that deserves any shame.
On page 99, this statement about biology driving behavior by Dr. Lee Kaplan seems to me to sum up the point of this book. While Oprah wrote the preface & adds a short comment occasionally, this is basically Dr. Ania Jastreboff’s book and perspective on obesity; how the biology of this disease will always try to bring the sufferer back to what she calls the “Enough Point” (set point) and the approach of the newish popular GLP-1 agonist medicines (Wegovy, Ozempic, etc.) in treating this biologically based disease. While there certainly are many out there who can diet/exercise/change mental habits or even do therapy or 12 step programs to lose weight, for those with obesity as a disease, she contends that these will not work (at least in the long run). She delves into the why and how.
I, like so many folks these days, have my own opinions about these drugs and I can’t say the book changed a whole lot of them. But I will review what I read, then add my two cents.
Dr. J is one of the top scientific research doctors in the field of obesity medicine, not some “celebrity doctor” who happened to team up with Oprah on this book (in case you were wondering). Her story of how she got into obesity medicine is compassionate and grounded. As she grew up, over time she watched her brilliant father become unable to control his eating and weight, and accumulate diseases of obesity. She didn’t blame him for not being able to control his food intake nor weight; even when young she saw this as something that must have biologic bases. She has followed the path of trying to figure this out for many years.
What I appreciate the most about this book is the “de-shaming.” Oprah is out there waving this banner (even as she admits she contributed to it for years), and Dr. J also emphasizes that the best of intentions cannot overcome the biology of obesity, no more than the same would do for blood pressure or diabetes issues (which require drugs for many, and not temporarily). Obesity is simply a disease which needs lifelong treatment by drugs (in her opinion). She herself, and other doctors she quotes, make the scientific case for that. They hope that
…we might shift the narrative about this disease…away from shame and blame to compassionate care; understanding that obesity is a…biological problem, not a behavioral or personal failure. This is hugely important.
She emphasizes continuing “care” (medication):
…obesity is a chronic condition requiring continued treatment and care. Patients who have for decades assumed the personal responsibility of trying to ‘control’ their weight might find themselves thinking that it is their responsibility to sustain the lower weight…But weight loss does not mean a cure.…if effective medications are stopped…the weight is pulled back up. (to set point).
So I think for many of us (and this is one area where I did learn something to change my beliefs) these drugs seem like “failures” because we assume they are “weight loss drugs” that should fix the issue and then not be needed if they actually “work,” rather than lifelong treatments of a disease state.
She goes on to explain how these drugs came to be (Gila monsters are involved!). If you are very interested in the origins, workings, side effects, and also other obesity treatment drugs in the pipeline, this is your book. She also sprinkles in patient stories and how she works with them.
She discusses the phases of these drugs effects upon a body: once the right weight is achieved, the body will gain some hunger back and be more normalized from the nearly total lack of hunger that many experience at first. Some may find this upsetting if they are not working with a good practitioner to understand this.
She writes of newfound freedom from constant food thoughts for clients that had never had that freedom. If you haven’t had this issue, you can’t begin to even imagine the real and deep hell of this problem. To be free of this must feel nothing short of miraculous.
Oprah speaks of this
We all want to live out the truest, purest, highest possibility of ourselves…And what this medicine allows me to do is to reach another level of that…without having to strive for it, battle for it, fight my own self for it, it’s just here, because all of the crap, the angst, the cloudiness, the fuzziness, the worry that I’ve spent on my weight—that’s energy.
Dr. J says
To this day, it’s still so encouraging to witness patients who are no longer mired in the intense, intrusive, persistent disruptive food noise of their past.
She understands how hard most of these people have tried, with diet after diet, strict regimes of exercise, and all sorts of gimmicks to try to control the problem…and shame as the results of failing. And how well do the sufferers know these sometimes decades of trying so hard and failing! Consider the world’s richest woman, who pulled herself up by her bootstraps, fought intense sexism and racism in her field, and nonetheless built an empire (& who also hikes many miles a day and lifts weights)—is Oprah undisciplined? Biology is not about willpower.
The author also expresses alarm at the way these medications are being used as “weight loss aids” for even thin folks. Chalk that up to our nutty culture and body image issues. Many of these drugs are now being produced by unscrupulous merchants and are dangerous—buyer beware! The valid medications are not meant to be “temporary weight loss drugs.” Again, they are to treat an ongoing medical condition.
Do you know anyone (maybe even yourself) whose life has been changed for the better by antidepressants? I always feel amazed that I never have seen the comparison made: yes, for depression: some people can benefit from therapy, some from other approaches (exercise, acupuncture, nutrition, hormone treatment), but many benefit from mood drugs (alongside or separately). I personally feel the obesity drugs are similar: that many mind and body causes can exist; drugs are most certainly not for all; but for some, life-changing.
I was curious to read this book as I have had both this condition and other chronic conditions which have made me intrigued with aspects of health, healing, and medicine. But I was most particularly interested in the “de-shaming” aspect.
I found the book, though, very disappointing and boring. Although the book has a lot of science, I found it not scientific enough. What do I mean by that?
Well, the doctor states more than once that it’s our current obesogenic (my word, not hers) environment (junk food, busyness, stress, toxins) creating dysregulation in the setpoint for many people, but that is a far as she goes. In one place she says that HALF of Americans would medically qualify for these drugs. That seems insane to me. Why are not the other factors here looked at? Why are the GLP and GIP pathways the only ones addressed? What about nutrient deficiencies, depression causing these issues, toxins pushing the body to obesity? Why is there no curiosity on her part as to why many binge eaters with ADHD lose their bingeing when treated for ADHD? Or many depressives treated with anti-depressants likewise? What about those who need thyroid treatment to have relief? There are so many possible causes, and so many factors that even she mentions. Yet, like so much of mainstream medicine, there is zero synthetic nor integrative viewpoint here at all: simply “you need these medicines.” This incredibly narrow, blinders-on worldview, I have to admit, makes me want to scream. The book is boring because there is nothing curious, innovative, nor holistic in its viewpoint.
Yet, I know that’s not the scope of this book in any manner whatsoever. It’s to explain these drugs. To justify them, to let Oprah have her say of how they’ve helped her and may help others. Oprah’s preface starts the book, with chilling examples in her life of how she has been the shame target about weight in this culture for decades. So now she is free; wants to share the good news, but also wants to probably defend her life of being blamed and shamed forever. Good for her, as in interviews she is constantly stating that now, at age 72, she’s living her best life.
But the problem with such a book is: these drugs may be amazing for Oprah, but are far from the answer for many people. The author downplays the huge side effects (some can be life threatening), stating that is true with all drugs (does that make them good? Or right for all?). She also emphasizes how they work closely with patients to change drug types, dosing, etc., if needed. But how many patients will be seen at clinics like hers? Not even 1% will have doctors with that scope of knowledge and skillset about these drugs.
It's amazing to me (& seems like malpractice) that patients are not first screened for hormonal issues, nutrient deficiencies (though--blame in part big industry insurance, where pharma is king & nutrients are ignored), low instead of high blood sugar, and other simple, fundamental issues & possible fixes first. The GLP-1 pathways are far from the only reason for weight and food noise. In these and other scenarios, these drugs at best are neutral (though far from undamaging when it comes to people's hope) and at worst, dangerous.
And there are many for whom these drugs simply will not work. This is a huge issue too. A dear friend works in the therapeutic weight loss field and is seeing deeply distraught people when this latest “last hope” craze doesn’t work for them (or the side effects intolerable).
This book & these medicines simply don’t address the real root causes of a good percentage of obesity, if it’s often about environment, toxicity, inflammation from junk food and stress, and/or other hormones (which the author states more than once). Thus, being a stopgap measure for many, the effectiveness or long-term ability to use them could be as limited as other past “miracles.” We don’t yet know what the outcomes or downsides over time will be; we shall see.
For many folks, these medications are truly a miracle. But, for all of the reasons I state and many I don't know of, Dr. Jastreboff's "one-size-fits-all" (pun not intended) oversimplified viewpoint is going to let down many sufferers.
I understand from this book how hard these researchers and doctors have worked in this area. But it’s a very incredibly narrow way to approach the obesity issue. I wholeheartedly (& from experience) agree it is often far more deeply physiological than something diets, therapy, or similar interventions might address. The biology must be front and center for many people. But I do not buy that these medications are the best choice for many or most.
However, there is hope if these medications cause the world to finally begin to understand how this physical problem is physical, not one of willpower, nor one that deserves any shame.
February 14, 2026
There’s so much shame around weight loss, we all know it. This book reframes the conversation with science and compassion, and it really made me rethink what we’ve been taught about obesity. Fascinating and a must-read… because everyone deserves care, not shame.
February 2, 2026
yes! thank you
Loved this book! Thank you for explaining the science behind GLP1s and obesity. Thank you for validating all my feelings, and struggles.
Loved this book! Thank you for explaining the science behind GLP1s and obesity. Thank you for validating all my feelings, and struggles.
February 5, 2026
For decades, Oprah Winfrey’s weight was a matter of global public record, often treated as a moral failing or a lack of willpower. In Enough, Oprah shifts the narrative from shame to science. Co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff, a leading obesity medicine expert from Yale, the book argues that obesity is not a choice or a character flaw, but a complex biological disease.
The book introduces a central scientific concept: the brain’s Biological Resistance point, so called enough point. Dr. Jastreboff explains how the body biologically defends its fat stores to ensure survival. When someone tries to lose weight through sheer willpower (caloric restriction), the body often fights back by increasing persistent, intrusive thoughts about eating.
The authors explore the revolutionary impact of new medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists. They explain how these treatments can lower the "Enough Point," quipping that for the first time, to allow people to feel "full" or "done" without a constant mental battle.
Oprah, the great storyteller, weaves her own vulnerable history. She reflects on painful career moments, such as being mocked for her body on national television in the 1980s. She describes her years of intense hiking and strict dieting, revealing that despite her immense success and grit in every other area of life, she gained the weight back eventually. Now Oprah describes the profound mental relief of finally experiencing a world where food no longer dominates her every thought.
Ultimately, Enough is not a diet book; it is a manifesto on sovereignty over one's body, based on the medication. It concludes that when the brain is finally reassured that it has "enough," a person can choose to stop eating further. I remember achieving the "enough point" in my 40s when I was finally healed. For me, I was an emotional eater, filling the void with food. Once I have accomplished "Satisfaction" of who I am, I no longer had that craving for food as a filler. I am thinner and healthier than ever in my 60s and I intend to enjoy my occasional cravings but then going back to regiment healthy diet, before they are enough and I am enough for me.
I am truly happy for Oprah and the many others finally finding freedom through this medicine, achieving weight control without the agony of starvation. Ideally, combining these treatments with a healthy lifestyle, a sensible diet and regular exercise will help them maintain an optimal weight. However, I still harbor concerns regarding the unknown long-term impacts and the potential for lifelong dependency. My philosophy is this: if you can achieve this freedom without medication, that is the ideal path. But if not, it is a relief to know that an alternative exists.
The book introduces a central scientific concept: the brain’s Biological Resistance point, so called enough point. Dr. Jastreboff explains how the body biologically defends its fat stores to ensure survival. When someone tries to lose weight through sheer willpower (caloric restriction), the body often fights back by increasing persistent, intrusive thoughts about eating.
The authors explore the revolutionary impact of new medications like GLP-1 receptor agonists. They explain how these treatments can lower the "Enough Point," quipping that for the first time, to allow people to feel "full" or "done" without a constant mental battle.
Oprah, the great storyteller, weaves her own vulnerable history. She reflects on painful career moments, such as being mocked for her body on national television in the 1980s. She describes her years of intense hiking and strict dieting, revealing that despite her immense success and grit in every other area of life, she gained the weight back eventually. Now Oprah describes the profound mental relief of finally experiencing a world where food no longer dominates her every thought.
Ultimately, Enough is not a diet book; it is a manifesto on sovereignty over one's body, based on the medication. It concludes that when the brain is finally reassured that it has "enough," a person can choose to stop eating further. I remember achieving the "enough point" in my 40s when I was finally healed. For me, I was an emotional eater, filling the void with food. Once I have accomplished "Satisfaction" of who I am, I no longer had that craving for food as a filler. I am thinner and healthier than ever in my 60s and I intend to enjoy my occasional cravings but then going back to regiment healthy diet, before they are enough and I am enough for me.
I am truly happy for Oprah and the many others finally finding freedom through this medicine, achieving weight control without the agony of starvation. Ideally, combining these treatments with a healthy lifestyle, a sensible diet and regular exercise will help them maintain an optimal weight. However, I still harbor concerns regarding the unknown long-term impacts and the potential for lifelong dependency. My philosophy is this: if you can achieve this freedom without medication, that is the ideal path. But if not, it is a relief to know that an alternative exists.
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