"Done With the Shaming" Oprah Declares Her Use of a Weight Loss Drug

In the photo: US TV host Oprah Winfrey (L) and US actor Fantasia Barrino attend the ceremonial lighting of the Empire State Building in New York, New York, USA, 12 December 2023, in the presence of cast members of the musical `The Color Purple.` The film remake premieres in theaters on December 25. EPA/Stephani Spindel

Oprah Winfrey claimed to have shed 67 pounds in 1988 while on her TV show, which she symbolised by pulling a crimson waggon full of fat across the stage. Even though she stopped dieting a few years later, Ms. Winfrey and the media have continued to talk about her weight fluctuations and the prejudice she has faced because of them for decades.

After 69-year-old Winfrey revealed on Wednesday that she had begun using medication to control her weight, the conversation around diet has once again resurfaced. New appetite suppressants including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound have recently seen a surge in demand, which coincides with her announcement.

She spoke to People Magazine about how she feels about having a medically approved prescription for weight management and remaining healthy. She described it as a relief, redemption, gift, and something she will never have to hide behind again because of it. Hosting a panel discussion, according to Ms. Winfrey, disabused her of the misconception that one's weight is completely dependent on a person's self-control. As a result, she chose to begin using a weight loss medication. /BGNES