Oprah Winfrey revealed her use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, including Ozempic and Wigovy, to shed nearly 50 pounds, challenging her previous denial of using medication for weight loss. At age 70, she shared her insights on her podcast, explaining that what she once viewed as “willpower” in thinner individuals was actually a lack of hunger. Oprah emphasized the importance of understanding one’s relationship with food, stating that the drug helped her manage appetite and maintain a healthier lifestyle. She reflected on past public shaming about her weight, affirming that her size does not define her worth.
Oprah Winfrey said that taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wigovy helped her understand the truth about “thin people.”
In 2023, the 70-year-old media mogul finally admitted to using an undisclosed drug, GLP-1, which also helps with weight loss, to shed nearly 50 pounds after decades of yo-yo dieting.
The confession came as a shock to fans, as Oprah had previously denied using drugs to lose weight, even denouncing the method as an “easy way out.”
But now, Winfrey, who has almost reached her goal weight of 160 pounds (72 kg), is sharing her experience taking GLP-1 and what it taught her about “thin people.”
She did so while discussing the function and safety of these types of drugs with Dr. Ania Jastrebov on the latest episode of her podcast.
“One of the things I realized when I first took GLP-1 was that for a long time I thought thinner people had more willpower,” Winfrey confessed. “They ate better food. They could stick to it longer. They never ate potato chips.
Oprah Winfrey said that taking weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wigovy helped her understand the truth about “thin people.” Seen in December 2024
But once Winfrey started taking GLP-1, she realized that what she initially perceived as “willpower” was actually a lack of bothersome hunger. Often referred to as “food noise.”
By reducing appetite and slowing down digestion, Ozempic, Wigovy, and other GLP-1 drugs can help eradicate the eating noise that often leads to overeating and weight gain.
“And then I realized that the first time they took GLP-1, they weren’t even thinking about it,” the billionaire said.
“They eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full.”
Winfrey explained that such a diet “doesn’t work” if you suffer from the disease obesity.
During her sit-down with Dr. Jastreboff, Winfrey also spoke about how she had been “publicly shamed” for her weight during her decades-long career.
‘Every week [I was] It was exploited by the tabloids and comedians joked about it whenever they wanted to make fun or joke about it. And I accepted it because I thought I deserved it,” she explained.
But Winfrey said she now understands that her size does not make her “less than” someone else and that she doesn’t deserve to be treated that way.
She did so while discussing the function and safety of these types of drugs with Dr. Ania Jastrebov on the latest episode of her podcast.
Once she started taking GLP-1, Winfrey discovered that what she initially perceived as “willpower” was actually a lack of intrusive hunger, or what she called “food noise.” I noticed that there are many.
Oprah initially denied using weight loss drugs, but in December 2023 she revealed that she had lost 40 pounds (18 kg) using GLP-1, declaring that she was “over the embarrassment.”
She also incorporated regular exercise, such as hiking, to shed unwanted weight.
“I use it now as a tool to keep myself from yo-yoing, when I feel like I need to,” Winfrey told PEOPLE, but she doesn’t know what drugs she’s using. His name was not disclosed.
“The fact that there is a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthy has felt like a relief, a relief, a gift in my lifetime, only to be hidden away and ridiculed again.” It’s not like that.
“I’ve completely stopped being shamed by others, especially myself,” she said, adding that she had actively recommended the weight loss aid to others before deciding to take it herself.
The actress revealed that she took the medication before Thanksgiving thinking she would “eat well for two weeks” and blamed the medication for only gaining 0.5 pounds instead of 8 pounds, adding, “The sound of food… It makes things quieter,” he added.
At the time, Winfrey said she was seven pounds away from her goal weight of 160, but insisted it was “not about the numbers.” At her heaviest, Oprah weighed 237 pounds (107.5 kg), she previously revealed.
She said undergoing knee surgery in 2021 was the beginning of her journey to improve her health and live a “more vibrant and vibrant life.”
“And I realized that the first time they took GLP-1, they weren’t even thinking about it,” she said. “They eat when they’re hungry and stop when they’re full.”
In 2023, a 70-year-old media mogul (leftist in 2023, rightist in 2019) used an undisclosed GLP-1, which also helps with weight loss, to lose nearly 50 pounds for the first time in decades. I finally admitted it. -Yo, I’m on a diet. The confession came as a shock to fans, as Oprah initially denied using weight loss drugs to lose weight, even denouncing the method as a “shortcut.”
The broadcasting icon said she now eats her last meal at 4 p.m., drinks a gallon of water a day, and uses the principles of counting Weight Watchers points in addition to regular hikes. .
She added that fitness and healthy habits are essential to maintaining weight loss, saying, “That’s what it’s all about.” I know everyone thought I was successful, but I worked very hard. I know that if I don’t work out and take care of other things, I’m not going to do well. ”
She said: [weight-loss] I was on medication, but I felt like I needed to prove that I had the willpower to do it. Now I no longer feel that way. ”
Winfrey was encouraged to use medical weight loss drugs after a recorded panel discussion with weight loss experts and clinicians in July 2023, which she said led to her “biggest moment of acceptance.” Ta.
The conversation was published online in September of the same year, and Winfrey categorically denied ever planning to take weight loss drugs.
She said: “I realized that I had been blaming myself for years for being overweight, and I have tendencies that no amount of willpower can control.” Obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower, it’s about the brain.
During the discussion, experts argued that obesity is a metabolic disease and that some bodies are “more prone to storing more fat”, also known as adipose tissue.
Oprah frankly explained: “For those of us who store fat, over and over again…you’ve seen me diet, diet, diet, diet, and my body always seems to want to go back.” And so it goes on and on until a certain weight is reached.
During her sit-down with Dr. Jastreboff, Winfrey also spoke about the times she was “publicly humiliated” because of her weight during her decades-long career. Seen in 1988
She added: “If I ate apple pie at 11 o’clock at night, I would have gained two pounds in the morning.” After a certain amount of time, you can no longer eat it. ”
“I’ve been doing yo-yos all my life,” the TV personality claimed, later saying: “This is a world that forever shames people for being overweight, and all of us who have lived in that world know that people just treat you differently. ” They just do it.
“And I’m Oprah Winfrey and I know all that entails. And you’re treated differently if you weigh over 200 pounds than if you weigh less than 200 pounds…
“There’s a sense of condescension. There’s prejudice.”
Oprah said the key is to have friends and partners around you who will provide support and “celebrate your victory.”
After discussing in more detail currently available weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wigovy, the media mogul said: It’s your choice.
“One of the things that’s so embarrassing is that even when I first started hearing about weight loss drugs, I was having knee surgery at the same time and I was like, ‘I have to do this with my life.'” Because if you take medicine, that’s the easy way. ”
Despite initially denying using weight loss drugs, Oprah revealed in December 2023 that she lost 40 pounds using GLP-1, declaring she was “over embarrassed” . Seen in January 2024
“I realized that I had been blaming myself for years for being overweight, and I have tendencies that no amount of willpower can control. Obesity is a disease. It’s not a question of willpower, it’s a question of the brain,” she said. Winfrey will be spotted in September 2024
“In my mind, I feel the same way that many people feel about bariatric surgery: I have to go through the surgery in a difficult way, I have to keep climbing the mountain, I have to keep suffering. There’s a part of me that feels like, “If I don’t, I’m somehow fooling myself.”
She concluded: “As someone who has been humiliated for many years.” [about my weight]I’m tired of it.
After this conversation, she said she released her “self-shame”, consulted a doctor, and was prescribed weight loss drugs.
Last year, she released a television documentary, “The Ann Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution,” which featured criticism of people who shame people who rely on weight loss pills.