Mindy Kaling Reveals What Motivated Her 40-Pound Weight Loss

LOS ANGELES, CA – Actress and producer Mindy Kaling says her focus on long-term health and being present for her children motivated her weight-loss journey and lifestyle changes in recent years.

The 46-year-old ‘The Office’ alum and creator of ‘The Mindy Project’ told Bustle in an interview published on May 19 that her priorities shifted after becoming a mother to her three children, Katherine, 8, Spencer, 5, and Anne, 2.

“When I was younger, I would want to lose weight because of vanity reasons,” Kaling told Bustle. “Now I want to lose weight or have lost weight because I want to stave off things like diabetes.”

Kaling said diabetes runs on both sides of her family and added that maintaining her health is now tied to longevity and parenting.“I had it on both sides of my family, and trying to avoid those kinds of things will, I think, help longevity for me,” she said. “And that’s my goal.”

The actress also said she wants to “live at least 20 more years” for her children.

Kaling addressed public attention surrounding her appearance and said she understands why some fans react strongly when celebrities undergo visible changes.

“You have an idea of what they were like when you grew attached to them, and it made them endear themselves to you,” Kaling told Bustle.

“Of course, it’s never a joy to be scrutinized, but also I truly understand it, as someone who consumes pop culture,” she added.