Rosie O'Donnell didn't expect to look so different after shedding 50 pounds.

She said: "The fact that I look so different has been difficult and unexpected.

"Everyone assumes that obese people would just be jumping for joy that they were healthier and thinner and able to fit into store-bought sizes, we don't have to go to the plus store.

"But it's also filled with a lot of emotional turbulence you wouldn't expect."

The 52-year-old star married Michelle Rounds in 2012 and admits her second wife encouraged her to lose some weight and be healthy.

Speaking to ABC News on the set of 'The View' - which she has returned to after leaving the programme in 2007 - she added: "When we decided to get married, she said, 'But I want 40 more years and I don't want you to die on me, so you need to do something for your health.'

"I have a group that I go to, where women talk about how they feel.

"A lot of marriages break up once one person gets healthy. Luckily, my wife is very healthy, [has] always been healthy, loves me and encourages me to be healthy."

Rosie was previously married to former Nickelodeon marketing ex ecutive Kelli Carpenter in 2004 but they divorced in 2007.

In July, ABC confirmed Rosie was to return to 'The View' to co-host alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

The network announced the news on Twitter, tweeting: "It's official! ABC confirms Rosie O'Donnell returns as co-host of #TheView w/ moderator Whoopi Goldberg for Season 18 (sic)."