Mindy Kaling Gets Candid About Her Weight-Loss Journey
Mindy Kaling is opening up about her weight-loss journey, acknowledging the intense scrutiny public figures face regarding their appearance. In an interview with Bustle published Tuesday, the Mindy Project star and writer explained that her motivation for losing weight stems from health concerns and her desire to live “at least 20 more years” for her three children.
“Do I wake up every day being like, ‘I look amazing and I’m so gorgeous’? No, unsurprisingly, but I truly feel so healthy,” Kaling said. “When I was younger, I would want to lose weight because of vanity reasons. Now I want to lose weight or have lost weight because I want to stave off things like diabetes. I had it on both sides of my family, and trying to avoid those kinds of things will, I think, help longevity for me, and that’s my goal.”
The 46-year-old didn’t specify how much weight she has lost but hinted she might write about it in the future. Currently, she focuses on food moderation, running, hiking, and strength training.
A Shift in Priorities
Kaling shared similar sentiments in a 2022 interview with People, emphasizing that a shift in priorities was key to her successful weight loss. “I’ve tried really hard to let go of this idea of losing weight for vanity reasons and really trying to think of how I can be healthy,” she said. “And for me, healthy is working out, moving my body a lot, keeping hydrated, and then not having negative connotations around working out and making me feel like if I don’t do this, then I won’t be something else.”
Understanding Fan Reactions
Kaling also addressed why some fans might feel frustrated or betrayed by changes to a celebrity’s appearance. “It’s sometimes no fun when one of your favorite actors loses weight. You have an idea of what they were like when you grew attached to them, and it made them endear themselves to you,” she told Bustle. “Of course, it’s never a joy to be scrutinized, but also I truly understand it, as someone who consumes pop culture.”
Upcoming Project
Kaling is preparing for her return to television as the creator and executive producer of Not Suitable for Work, premiering on Hulu next month. The series follows five career-driven New Yorkers navigating work, love, and other challenges in their 20s.
