Oprah Winfrey admits to weight problem, talks about depression

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey has fame and fortune that most could only dream of, but she also has a well known problem with her weight. And according to Oprah's adviser and fitness expert, Winfrey was suffering from a mild case of depression last year.

In her first episode of 2009, Winfrey devoted her show to the beginning of her new "Best Life" week series and talked about the personal challenge that held her back last year.

"This past year has been really difficult, because I didn't feel like a cover girl. I'd rather not be seen," Winfrey said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times report. " All this year I've been hiding my body because I didn't want you to see it. Here I am one of the most visible people in the world, trying to hide my body."

"All last year I had a problem," Winfrey said, as she explained she was "outing myself" about the weight problem. Fitness expert Bob Greene said Winfrey was actually mildly depressed, although Winfrey herself did not actually describe herself that way.

"I looked in her eyes, and she wasn't there," Greene said. He described Winfrey as "very vacant and distracted" and he said it was "alarming" and sad.

"I feel like there's a big brown elephant in the room that's not being discussed," Winfrey said in a video released on her YouTube page to advertise the start of the 2009 portion of her season.

Winfrey will debut 5 all-new shows this week on weight, health, spirit, money and sex followed by a worldwide webcast event the following week. Winfrey, who backed President-elect Barack Obama in his campaign last year, is expected to attend the Inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington and reportedly will broadcast from D.C. that week.