Oprah Winfrey's weight loss journey has been a long and very public one, marked by struggles, triumphs, and a constant search for a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Her experiences resonate with many, and her recent openness about using a GLP-1 agonist has sparked important conversations about weight management, self-acceptance, and the role of medication. This article delves into the details of Oprah's journey, exploring her past struggles, her current approach, and the broader implications of her choices.
Early Struggles and Public Scrutiny
Oprah's weight has been a topic of public discussion for decades. In 1988, she famously lost 67 pounds on a liquid diet, only to regain it soon after returning to solid food. She later revealed that this experience damaged her metabolism. In 1992, she reached her highest weight of 237 pounds, feeling frustrated by her body's tendency to return to a certain weight despite her efforts. For many women, weight is a deep, dark secret. Having mine printed in a magazine for the world to see was pretty scary. But once it happened, I felt strangely free. The number lost some power.
Finding a Sustainable Approach
After spending literally years on more diets than I care to count, I finally made the shift from dieting to a lifestyle change. Everyone is different, but for me what's worked is Weight Watchers. It's given me the freedom I crave. I haven't had to sacrifice foods I love. Or feel deprived and punished. Today I'm more conscious about what I eat, balancing indulgent things with healthier options. I leave the table feeling satisfied-and to me, that's far more important than any number on the scale.
In 2019, Oprah revealed that she was diagnosed with pre-diabetes before joining WW (formerly Weight Watchers). Through the program, she lost 42 pounds, bringing her blood sugar and blood pressure back to normal ranges. This experience highlighted the importance of a sustainable approach to weight management, focusing on lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes.
The Role of GLP-1 Agonists
In recent years, Oprah has incorporated a GLP-1 agonist into her weight management strategy. In a recent episode of "The Oprah Podcast", she said that she took a GLP-1 agonist, which is a specific type of weight-loss medication. Some brand name GLP-1s include Ozempic and Trulicity - though Winfrey hasn't revealed a specific brand. GLP-1 agonists mimic the hormone GLP-1, which the body releases after eating, helping people feel full and slowing stomach emptying. "One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people just had more willpower, they ate better foods, they were able to stick to it longer, they never had a potato chip, and then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, 'Oh, they're not even thinking about it. They're only eating when they're hungry, and they're stopping when they're full," she said on the podcast.
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She first confirmed that she is taking a weight-loss drug in an interview with People published in December 2023, but did not confirm which medication she was taking. Food and Drug Administration to treat Type 2 diabetes. Weight loss is a famous side effect."I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she told People at the time. "It quiets the food noise."
This decision was not easy for her. “There’s a part of me that feels … I’ve got to do it the hard way. I’ve got to keep climbing the mountains. I've got to keep suffering. I’ve got to do that because otherwise I somehow cheated myself,” Winfrey said in September 2023 during a panel on Oprah Daily, called “The State of Weight.” It was after that discussion that she changed her mind about using a weight-loss drug, Winfrey told People, calling it her "biggest aha" moment: “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.”
Frustration with her weight has “occupied five decades of space" in her brain, she noted. She shared a similar sentiment in a March 2024 interview on CNN's "King Charles."“I couldn’t work out anymore. I can’t climb any faster or run any faster. I was down to eating one meal a day. There’s nothing else I can do,” Oprah recalled of deciding to get some extra help with managing her weight. “When I tell you how many times I have blamed myself because you think, ‘I’m smart enough to figure this out,’ and then to hear all along, it’s you fighting your brain," she added. “The one thing I hope people come away with is knowing that (obesity is) a disease and it’s in the brain."
A Holistic Approach to Health
Oprah emphasizes that weight-loss medication is just one part of her overall health regimen. She maintains a healthy diet and exercises regularly. She told People the weight-loss medication is just part of her regimen for maintaining a healthy weight.“I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. “I intend to keep it that way. … I was on that treadmill today.” Studies show that weight-loss drugs need to be part of a holistic approach, with some of the strongest results in patients who are also eating a healthy diet and exercising.
Redefining Success and Self-Acceptance
Oprah's journey is not just about weight loss; it's about self-acceptance and redefining success. Her goal weight now is 160 pounds, though she told People it’s “not about the number” but about living “a more vital and vibrant life.” As she approached her 70th birthday, her No. 1 concern was her health, Winfrey said, noting she doesn’t live with a fear of death, but with “a conscious acknowledgment that it’s possible at any time.” “(I) recognize what an absolute miracle it is that 70 years on, that heart’s still pumping,” she added.
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She acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a healthy weight and the importance of self-compassion. "I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”
The Experiences of Other Women
Oprah's story is not unique. Many women share similar struggles with weight, body image, and the pressure to conform to societal standards. The experiences of several women who participated in a weight loss challenge highlight the diverse paths to health and self-acceptance.
Finding Focus After Loss
A year ago, I wasn't thinking about anything except grieving the loss of my husband. O's challenge gave me something to focus on. Since last year, I've turned my health around: My cholesterol levels are normal, my body mass index is nearly normal (it was at an obese level when I started), and I'm no longer prediabetic. My 7-year-old son is super stoked, too. He's been my little cheerleader, saying things like, "Wow, Mommy, your stomach looks so different now!" Even better, he understands how his own choices affect his health. If he asks for a doughnut and I tell him no, he understands why.
Overcoming Physical and Emotional Barriers
I feel much better physically after losing so much weight. Before, I'd get winded easily, and I always felt anxious. Now that's gone away, and I'm more limber, less achy. Unfortunately, I'm still struggling with infertility, and that's been really hard. Last summer we tried our fourth round of in vitro fertilization. I'd lost 40 pounds since starting Weight Watchers in January 2016, and my husband and I were feeling optimistic. When the procedure didn't work, it was devastating. Pizza is my favorite food. When I was heartbroken, all I wanted to do was eat more of it. In that state of uncertainty, it's so easy to lose motivation. But I'm still on Weight Watchers, and I've stayed focused on my goal. Now when I want pizza, I eat one slice instead of three. I'm very proud that I've maintained my weight loss. In the past, if I slipped and made unhealthy choices, I'd give up. Now I'm on a mission. Before the magazine came out, I panicked and thought, Millions of people will be looking at my body! But I've received so much support from family, friends, strangers, and the Weight Watchers community. My struggles with infertility especially seem to strike a chord.
Shifting Perspectives and Finding Self-Worth
Since last year, I've developed a much healthier outlook on life and especially on my body, thanks to Camilla Mager, the therapist we met during the challenge, who's helping me sort out my eating issues. For the longest time, I'd identify certain foods as "good" or "bad" and view myself through that lens, too. Camilla has encouraged me not to look at things that way. She's also working with me on finding my voice. I think that in trying to be a good wife and mother, I kind of lost myself. I've got two little kids, and I'm often up with one of them in the middle of the night, then sleep-deprived the next day. I just finished nursing my youngest. I learned this past year that I'm really tough on myself. I've always thought, You'd be great…if you lost the weight. I know that's not true, but it's hard to let it go. I've made a lot of progress this year toward being more realistic. I spent many years in the modeling world, so I know what it's like to diet and exercise like crazy to get down to a goal weight. But at age 45, I don't think extreme or high-impact exercise is right for me. Lots of walking, yoga, stretching, and toning are what feel best. At this point, I feel strong. I feel happy. Real life is imperfect, and losing weight has been extra tough.
Read also: Do Oprah Keto Gummies Work?
Embracing Exercise and Self-Care
Since I've dropped the extra weight, people tell me "You look beautiful!" and "You look so sexy!" It's really nice to hear things like that, but it's even better when people say they've been inspired by my story. I joined a gym in my neighborhood, even though I'd never worked out in my life. I always used to say, "If you see me running, you should run, too, because it means there's something chasing me." But suddenly I've become a gym person. There's a babysitter there I feel comfortable leaving my daughter with. Aside from helping tone my body, the gym gives me time to myself-always in short supply. I still haven't found love, but my perspective has changed. A year or two ago, I'd go on a first date worrying about sucking in my gut and thinking, Is he gonna like me? Now I feel like a catch-why wouldn't somebody want to go out with me? When I walk into Starbucks, I can see heads turn. That didn't happen a year ago. My divorce was recently finalized, so I'm still on an emotional roller coaster. But the lows feel a lot less low, and the sad days have become a little shorter. I work as an acupuncturist, and patients always ask me how I lost the weight. I can tell them about my diet and exercise regime, but really, motivation is what made the difference.
Prioritizing Self-Care and Realistic Expectations
When the weight loss challenge started, I said I wanted to be "fit and fabulous." Check and check! I'm now taking a much healthier approach to my weight as well as to my time, and I'm making self-care a bigger priority. Now, in terms of my weight, I'm not yet where I want to be, but I'm happy with how far I've come. The lifestyle changes I could make 15 years ago to instantly drop pounds just don't work the same at 50. Fortunately, my age also brings perspective: I'm able to look at the whole picture and give myself a break. I think I'm a realistic representation of most women-our weight goes up and down, and it's very hard to get rid of those last ten pounds. Do I still plan to try? Of course. We do Meatless Mondays at home as a family to help our kids pick up healthier habits: My baked sweet-potato casserole is a crowd favorite. Personal trainers can be expensive, but mine keep me accountable.
Owning Your Body and Finding Love
In my first interview, I talked about wanting to unzip my body and step out. But it soon became clear to me that I had to own who I was and learn to love that person before I could address how and why I was eating. One thing I've tried is looking in the mirror every day and saying "I love you." When I first started doing it, I wore sunglasses so I didn't have to look myself in the eye. But sunglasses or not, it really works. We're all beautiful, no matter our size, and it's important to feel beautiful. These days I'm more comfortable in my body, and I'm able to move better. I promised myself this would be the year I'd get over some of my fears. I've always had anxiety over flying-I worried people would give me dirty looks because I'm heavy. But I traveled to South Carolina for the birth of my third grandchild-it was the first time I'd ever flown by myself. It was better than I expected. I'd like to lose more weight, to be more physically comfortable in a seat on an airplane or in a theater-but as long as I'm healthy and I can do what I want without embarrassment, that's okay for now. It took me decades to get this way. So I'm going at my own pace. Here's some exciting news: I got engaged! We'd dated for five years but broke up in 2014. We stayed in touch and last year started spending more time together. One day I looked at him and said, "Oh my God. I know what was missing, and it wasn't about you.
Focusing on Family and Personal Growth
My son has been visiting colleges, so our whole family recently went to Chicago and Palo Alto, California. We hit up lots of famous restaurants. I ate…and I was fine! It was like I was choosing the joy of being with my family over what the scale would say the next day. Anyone who remembers me talking about my anxiety surrounding food and weight knows that for me, that's huge. This whole experience has been a success because I've been able to maintain the weight I'd previously lost, and drop an additional five pounds, and learn some things about myself, too. It was extremely tough at first to feel so vulnerable and put my life out there for everyone to read about. But the intensity of that experience made me realize something: I don't need to be accountable to anyone other than me. Being a woman in this culture can be brutal: My weight and self-worth have been intertwined for so long. But now I realize that my worth is made up of who I am, who I love, who loves me, and how I can contribute to the world. I think I'm always going to be a freak about the numbers on the scale, but I've become less neurotic about daily fluctuations. There's more to life than how my body looks naked, so I'll just be the best I can be. I'm good. I'm a vegetarian and an off-and-on vegan, and I ate more plant-based meals this year. Not eating for 12 hours every day is nonnegotiable. I love my Peloton bike (pelotoncycle.com), which features online streaming spin classes.
Embracing Curves and Pursuing Dreams
My weight has fluctuated over the past year. More important than the pounds I've lost, I've noticed a difference in my body. Being Latina, I still have my curves. But by eating better and exercising more, I've lost inches all over. I recently bought a pair of size 14 jeans. I don't remember the last time I wore that size! Last year I talked about having failed the fitness evaluation for my dream job with the Department of Homeland Security. Since then, my current position in Uber's corporate office has become really busy, and I haven't been able to retake the test to work in Customs and Border Protection. I still want that job, though, and I plan to get it.
How Weight-Loss Drugs Work
Ozempic and similar drugs work by mimicking the hormones the body releases when a person eats food, as TODAY.com previously reported. People have reduced appetite, and when they do eat, they feel full sooner. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, targets one hormone, known as GLP-1. Food and Drug Administration for people with obesity or those who have complications from being overweight. Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and constipation. People self-inject the drugs once a week and have to keep taking them to maintain weight loss. Patients can expect to lose 15% to 20% of their body weight, says Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist who runs a weight-loss clinic in Cary, North Carolina.
Using a weight-loss medication is “in no way the easy way out,” he notes. “You still have to improve your nutrition. You still have to stay active. You really have to stay quite consistent over time to achieve the results that are seen in the clinical studies,” McGowan tells TODAY.com. “The reason these new medications are such game changers is they really are effective, and it’s quite remarkable to help someone who’s tried oftentimes for years, decades, maybe their entire adult life, to lose weight.”