Mindy Kaling’s weight loss secrets revealed as star, 46, looks slimmer than ever despite struggling with body image since high school and accepting she’d be ‘chubby for life’

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She shot to fame playing customer service representative Kelly Kapoor in the NBC sitcom The Office. 

Twenty years later, Mindy Kaling is looking healthier and slimmer, having lost an impressive 40 pounds.

The 46-year-old actress showed off her noticeably slimmer physique at the Fashion Trust Awards in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Losing weight has been a difficult process for her. She’s often discussed the struggles she’s gone through, including dealing with years of negative comments about her weight and what she called subtly insulting remarks.

I’ve been a huge fan of Mindy Kaling for years, and I loved reading about her experiences in her memoir, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? She talked so honestly about growing up, and one thing really stuck with me. She said she doesn’t even remember not being a bit bigger, and that, like her Indian heritage, it just felt like a core part of who she is – something she always carried with her. It was so relatable and refreshing to hear her put it that way.

Now that Mindy is starting a fresh phase in her life, the Daily Mail is exploring her weight loss story and revealing how she achieved her results.

Mindy began trying to lose weight in high school after someone suggested she’d be more attractive if she did.

She started a simple diet by only eating half of the food on her plate.

This included no dessert either.

She lost thirty pounds in just two months, hoping it would finally stop the bullying she faced at school, but sadly, it didn’t, according to her memoir.

For a time, Mindy believed she was at a healthy weight. However, she gained thirty-five pounds during her freshman year of college.

She started going to the gym hoping to lose weight, but eventually accepted that she’d likely always be a little curvy. She realized her only pastime was dieting, which wasn’t helping her achieve a healthy lifestyle.

The actress explained that she believes she’ll always struggle with her weight, mainly because dieting has become her only hobby.

I don’t have any skills in foreign languages, crafts like knitting or scrapbooking, or activities like skiing and cooking. I also don’t have any pets and have never used drugs. Plus, I lost my passport three years ago when I moved and haven’t replaced it yet.

I don’t enjoy video games because they often put you in stressful scenarios, such as war zones or situations where you’re committing crimes like stealing a car.

I’m worried that losing weight would mean giving up the one thing I really enjoy. I also don’t have much self-control – I’m more likely to fall apart than get stronger. Luckily, men I’ve dated have always liked me as I am, and honestly, I’m comfortable with my body as long as it can still handle a beach chair!

Mindy was just 24-years-old when she became a writer and actor for the hit sitcom The Office. 

Ugh, it just breaks my heart to hear this, but apparently, after she became famous from the show, she revealed something awful happened. Someone – a writer, can you believe it?! – actually made fun of her weight! It totally crushed her confidence, and I’m just furious anyone would ever do that to her. It’s so unfair!

In a 2021 interview on Good Morning America, the actress shared that a coworker suggested she lose 15 pounds for her role.

She admitted it’s her biggest weakness, and someone recently pointed it out, which really upset her.

Mindy realized she was being judged and openly criticized for her appearance, simply because she didn’t fit others’ expectations.

That internal conflict has deeply influenced both the themes of my writing and the characters I portray.

‘Almost all of those kinds of things [in my work] come from something really real,’ she said.

Mindy explained that when she began her career, there weren’t many roles available for women with her background and appearance.

She described how television used to limit actresses’ roles based on their size. If you were very thin, you could play the main character. Otherwise, if you were larger – around 250 pounds – you were usually cast as the funny, clumsy character.

The really surprising thing, and what’s often overlooked, is that this applies to most American women over 24.

‘What if you’re like a size 12 and you want to just live your life and look cute and date? 

Looking back to when I wrote ‘Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?’ in 2011, it felt like I was stepping into completely uncharted territory. But honestly, things have shifted so much since then – it’s really incredible to see how much has changed.

In 2022, Mindy began losing weight by making small changes to her lifestyle, like exercising regularly and eating balanced meals instead of following a restrictive diet.

She explained to Entertainment Tonight that she lost weight without having to restrict her diet.

I simply eat what I enjoy. Strict diets don’t work for me – I just naturally eat less of things I want. My weight loss hasn’t been dramatic, but that’s how I’ve always managed it.

She admitted she’ll never be able to stick to a diet of just spinach and salmon daily. For the first time, she’s finding success with a more balanced approach to eating, and she’s really enjoying it.

The actress has additionally emphasised the importance of drinking plenty of water each day.

‘That’s a huge weight off my shoulders because I think hydration is so key. Half the times I’m in a bad mood it’s because I’m not hydrated, so for me that’s super important,’ she told Women’s Health.

Around this time, rumours began circulating that it was due to using the weight loss drug Ozempic. 

The co-creator of Running Point hasn’t publicly said she’s using a popular weight-loss drug like Ozempic or Wegovy. Instead, she attributes her weight loss to eating smaller portions, drinking more water, lifting weights, doing yoga, and walking 15 to 20 miles every week.

‘In my 20s, I had this very certain idea of what ‘being fit’ really meant,’ she told E! News.

I used to think getting in shape meant hitting specific goals, like running a seven-minute mile and following a strict diet. It took me a while to understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to fitness, and many different ways to be healthy.

In 2023, she opened up about how she started on her health journey after having children.

Mindy Kaling has three children: Katherine, nicknamed Kit, who is eight years old; Spencer, called Spike, who is five; and Anne, who turned two in February.

Mindy Kaling has always kept the father of her children’s identity private. However, many fans believe it might be BJ Novak, who is a close friend and her former co-star and showrunner on The Office. Their strong connection both on and off screen has fueled this speculation.

As someone who definitely appreciates the finer things, I have to say the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever received aren’t things at all – they’re my children. I shared that recently on Instagram, and it feels even more true now that our family is growing. I wrote about my two oldest, and honestly, they’re the best presents I could ever ask for.

I never really liked being around children before. But after my mom died, I suddenly knew with absolute certainty that I wanted to have kids of my own. I think a lot of people feel that way after losing a parent.

I’m really trying to be there for my kids, which is tough because I’m naturally impatient. I also want to be open to new experiences, but I’m not very spontaneous! And honestly, staying healthy is a struggle – all I want to do is relax and eat comfort food. I want to be around for them for a long time, even when they eventually tell me, ‘Mom, it’s time for you to rest.’

My doctor said I’m in the best health I’ve been in for years, which is a really great feeling.

Mindy also focuses on strength training, which she also opened up to the outlet about.

Growing up, I constantly heard that you naturally lose muscle as you age and should start strength training. But when I was younger, all I cared about was being thin.

In an interview last year, she described herself as someone who enjoys working out as a hobby, trying everything from tai chi and pilates to weightlifting.

She explained that you don’t need to be an expert to have fun and get a good workout from something.

I’ve found it’s really beneficial to constantly challenge my body in new ways. I’ve been varying my workouts, and I’ve realized a good workout doesn’t always have to be extremely intense or leave you drenched in sweat. It doesn’t need to be punishing to be effective.

In an interview with Today, Mindy explained how she finds time to exercise despite her hectic life. She said she often breaks up her day, using short pockets of free time – even just 10 minutes – to go for a walk instead of scrolling through social media like Instagram.

Earlier this year, Mindy talked about her significant weight loss on social media, posting older photos from around ten years ago.

Okay, so she finally posted, but honestly, it was so cute how she said she almost didn’t because she ‘looked different’! Ugh, she’s so real. But of course, she totally dodged talking about those awful rumors about weight loss jabs. Like, can people just leave her alone? I just want her to be happy and post whatever she wants, you know?

Over the past year, she’s noticeably lost weight and has been sharing her progress as she focuses on her health.

The screenwriter and producer joined the #10YearChallenge in 2016, sharing old photos to look back on the last ten years.

She shared photos referencing a popular style from 2016, explaining she almost didn’t post them because her appearance has changed. However, she decided they were too good not to share, and added that others had expressed similar feelings.

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2026-04-16 15:50