Oprah Winfrey recently disclosed that she has turned to weight-loss medication, addressing her longstanding struggle with weight.
In an interview with People magazine, the former talk show host reflected on enduring decades of public ridicule about her size, revealing how she internalized the criticism. She recounted a particularly harsh incident where a magazine labeled her as “Dumpy, Frumpy, and Downright Lumpy.”
Although Winfrey’s weight fluctuations have been extensively documented, her health saw improvements during rehabilitation after a knee surgery in 2021. Engaging in hiking and focusing on fitness contributed to positive strides.
Despite recommending weight-loss medications for others over the years, Winfrey hadn’t considered them for herself until participating in a panel conversation for “Oprah Daily’s Life You Want” series. During the September airing, she had an epiphany and changed her mindset, obtaining a prescription for a weight-loss drug, which she does not explicitly name in the interview.
Winfrey emphasized the ongoing effort required to maintain her weight loss, viewing the medication as a valuable “gift.”
Over the past year, there has been a surge in demand for semaglutide, the generic form of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, known for their effectiveness in weight loss. Semaglutide drugs imitate the gut hormone GLP1, enhancing communication between the gut and brain, inducing a sense of fullness, and reducing appetite, according to Dr. Amanda Velazquez from Cedars-Sinai Center for Weight Management and Metabolic Health in Los Angeles.
Originally developed to treat diabetes, drugs like Ozempic have demonstrated serious side effects, and doctors caution about the unknown long-term impacts.