Oprah Winfrey Opens Up About Ozempic and Her Realization on 'Thin People
Oprah Winfrey Opens Up About Ozempic and Her Realization on 'Thin People.
The 70-year-old acknowledged that her perspective on life transformed following her fitness journey.
The emergence of weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy has prompted numerous celebrities to publicly acknowledge their use in efforts to achieve weight reduction.
Among these prominent figures is Oprah Winfrey, who has recently disclosed a significant shift in her perspective regarding "thin individuals" since embarking on her weight loss journey.
The renowned talk-show host engaged in a discussion with Dr. Ania Jastreboff on her podcast.
"One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a [weight loss drug] was that all these years, I thought that thin people had more willpower," Oprah admitted. "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 [weight loss drug] that, they're not even thinking about it," she continued. "They're eating when they're hungry, and they're stopping when they're full."
A 70-year-old individual successfully shed nearly 50 pounds during her weight loss journey, resulting in a significant transformation in her body image compared to the peak of her fame.
"Every week [I was] exploited by the tabloids, anytime any comedian wanted to make fun or make a joke about it, they would make a joke about it," she said of her time in the spotlight. "And I accepted it because I thought I deserved it."
RELATED: Oprah Winfrey's $3 Billion Net Worth: How She Built Her Fortune.
Oprah disclosed that she ultimately came to understand her inherent beauty, irrespective of her size, and acknowledged that she should not feel inferior for not achieving her target weight. Previously, the media mogul felt apprehensive about admitting her use of weight loss medications due to the stigma attached to it.
"One of the things I carried so much shame for, and even when I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time I was going through knee surgery, and I felt I've got to do this on my own because if I take the drug, that's the easy way out," she said at an Oprah Daily panel.
"There's a part of me that feels — like I think a lot of people feel with bariatric surgery — that I've got to do it the hard way, I've got to keep climbing the mountains, I've got to keep suffering, and I've got to do that because otherwise I somehow cheated myself."
She decided to do away with the shame and speak to her doctors about using weight loss drugs to help reach her goal weight.
"As a person who has been shamed for so many years [about my weight], I am just sick of it," she added.
The billionaire determined that she could not achieve weight loss solely through willpower. "I had an awareness of [weight loss] medications, but felt I had to prove I had the willpower to do it,".
"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."
Oprah Winfrey's journey toward self-acceptance and body positivity is a powerful reminder that weight loss is not just about willpower, but understanding one’s body and mind. By openly discussing her use of weight loss medications like Ozempic, Oprah has shattered the stigma surrounding such treatments and encouraged others to embrace their own paths to health and wellness.
Her transformation reflects the importance of self-compassion, realizing that every individual’s struggle is unique. Oprah’s story serves as an inspiring example of how acknowledging personal challenges and letting go of shame can lead to true empowerment and inner peace.
