Legendary talk show host Oprah Winfrey is set to explore the impact of prescription weight-loss drugs in an upcoming TV special while reflecting on her recent departure from the WeightWatchers’ board due to a conflict of interest.
Oprah’s disclosure of using a weight-loss medication marked a shift in her approach. She now emphasizes its role alongside a holistic health regimen and aims to advocate for destigmatizing obesity and promoting health equity.
Oprah Winfrey To Discuss ‘Radical Impact’ Of Weight-Loss Drugs On TV Special
In an upcoming ABC primetime special titled “An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution,” scheduled for March 18, Oprah Winfrey will delve into the controversial realm of prescription weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy.
In recent years, these weight-loss medications, especially Ozempic, have taken over Hollywood, with several big names, like Sharon Osbourne, admitting to using the medications to drop a few pounds.
Oprah’s TV special will feature her, medical experts, and patients exploring the “radical impact” of these drugs in front of a live audience.
According to NYP, Oprah, who is also an executive producer on the primetime special, expressed the deeply personal nature of the topic, stating: “It is a very personal topic for me and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity.”
Oprah Winfrey Steps Down From WeightWatchers Board
The upcoming primetime special comes after Oprah stepped down from the WeightWatchers board of directors, where she has been an investor since 2015.
She donated all her shares in the company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture after disclosing her use of a weight-loss medication.
In a statement announcing her exit, Oprah cited the need to “eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight-loss medications.”
The billionaire wrote: “I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity.”
She added, “Weight Health is a critically important topic that needs to be addressed at a broader scale. I plan to participate in a number of public forums and events where I will be a vocal advocate in advancing this conversation.”
She Admitted To Using A Weight-Loss Medication
In a December interview with People magazine, Oprah admitted her use of a weight-loss medication, though she refrained from specifying the particular drug.
Describing it as a tool to prevent weight fluctuations, she stated: “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing. The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier in my lifetime feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for.”
“I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself,” she added.
While acknowledging the benefits of using a weight-loss medication, Oprah emphasized that it’s not a standalone solution.
She highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to health and fitness, stating that “It’s everything.” She added: “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so d— hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”
Oprah Winfrey Reveals Her ‘Aha’ Moment In Using Weight Loss Prescription
During the interview, Oprah revealed that the pivotal moment for her to use pharmaceutical help was during a panel discussion titled “The State of Weight” in July, part of Oprah Daily’s “The Life You Want” series.
The octogenarian shared that she had “the biggest aha” moment on using pharmaceutical aids for weight loss. Reflecting on the event, she said: “I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”
“Obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower — it’s about the brain,” she added.
After that moment, Oprah said that she “released my shame about it” and consulted her doctor, who went on to prescribe a weight-loss medication. Now, the former “The Oprah Winfrey Show” host uses the drug as she deems necessary.