Mindy Kaling Reveals the Health Reason Behind Her Weight Loss Journey
Mindy Kaling Reveals the Health Reason Behind Her Weight Loss Journey
Angelique BrenesWed, May 20, 2026 at 12:50 AM UTC
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Mindy Kaling at the Gold House 5th Annual Gold Gala
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Gett
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Mindy Kaling says her weight loss journey is now focused on health and longevity rather than “vanity reasons”
The actress told Bustle she wants to “stave off things like diabetes,” which runs in her family
Kaling also addressed public scrutiny surrounding her appearance, saying she understands fans’ reactions to her transformation
Mindy Kaling is getting candid about her weight loss journey and why her motivation has changed over the years.
In a new interview with Bustle, the actress and producer opened up about the public attention surrounding her appearance, explaining that while she understands fans’ reactions, her focus now is on long-term health and being there for her 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, 46, told the outlet.
Mindy Kaling at the Maison Valentino & Alessandro Michele "Specula Mundi" Book Launch held at Marciano Art Foundation
Credit: River Callaway/WWD via Getty
In recent years, the actress has undergone a noticeable physical transformation, sparking continued conversation online about her appearance and wellness habits.
Kaling told Bustle that she has developed “very specific rules” about what she chooses to share publicly, including boundaries around conversations involving her body and her children.
Kaling, who previously described herself as a “normal-slash-chubby woman,” wrote openly about weight struggles and fad dieting in her earlier essay collections, including 2011’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?
Now, however, the actress says her mindset has shifted away from appearance-driven goals.
“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,” Kaling said. “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.”
Kaling also acknowledged that some fans may feel conflicted seeing a celebrity they once related to physically change over time.
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“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.”
The Office alum has spoken publicly in recent years about focusing on health and fitness rather than appearance.
In a 2023 interview with PEOPLE ahead of the launch of her Mindy x Andie Swim Collection, Kaling said she had become more confident in her body after committing to healthier habits.
“I'm feeling really confident in my body these days, which is not something that I've been able to say for my whole life, unfortunately,” she told PEOPLE at the time. “I feel great.”
Mindy Kaling attends the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards 2026
Credit: Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic
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The Never Have I Ever creator also shared that she runs or hikes about 20 miles a week, incorporates weight lifting into her routine and practices moderation with food.
“The truth is that I spend so much time and energy trying to be healthy,” she told PEOPLE in 2023.
Kaling said she became more confident in her body after changing the way she thought about fitness.
“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 told PEOPLE in 2022. “And for me, healthy is working out, moving my body a lot, [and] keeping hydrated.”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
