Oprah Winfrey Slams Diet Drugs Like Ozempic After Becoming Weight Watchers Shareholder

Ozempic and other weight loss drugs have become increasingly popular among celebrities. But media mogul Oprah Winfrey, a Weight Watchers company shareholder and board member, refuses to follow the trend.

Find out how and why the legendary talk show host threw shade at those who use weight loss drugs. And keep reading to learn if Oprah ever considered it.

Oprah Winfrey – Slams Ozempic As ‘Easy’ Weight Loss

Use of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss has soared recently. And Oprah Winfrey, 68, just held a panel, “The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight,” that focused on obesity and weight.

Obesity experts Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Dr. Melanie Jay, psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman, and Sima Sistani, CEO of Weight Watchers, joined Oprah, according to People.

However, Winfrey herself made headlines when she became a board member and shareholder for Weight Watchers. But Oprah shared that she had considered taking Ozempic. The FDA-approved prescription medication for people with type 2 diabetes, as well as Wegovy and Mounjaro, have turned into a hot weight loss trend for celebrities. 

And Oprah questioned the use of the drugs. “Shouldn’t we all just be more accepting of whatever body you choose to be in? That should be your choice,” Winfrey claimed amid the panel. And she revealed, “Even when I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time I was going through knee surgery.” But she decided, “I’ve got to do this on my own. Because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out.”

As weight-loss drugs become more popular, @bworley examines how Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy may impact the muscle mass of users. pic.twitter.com/zk45MBYxfY

— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 21, 2023

Oprah Winfrey – Recalls Body-Shaming

However, Winfrey recalled her own experience with body-shaming “in the tabloids every week about for 25 years.” And she slammed those who mocked her for lacking “willpower.” But Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician, described obesity as “a chronic disease.”

And Stanford shared, “It’s hard to see you ostracized in the way that you’ve been. Because this isn’t about willpower. It’s not your fault,” she told Oprah. And the obesity specialist noted that each body regulates weight in a different way. 

Winfrey previously revealed that she traveled a new path to health amid recovering from double knee surgeries. And she recalled, “When I came home the first time, I literally could not lift my leg. I couldn’t lift my heel off of the bed,” she admitted. “And I vowed if I was ever able to get up, walk around, and move again — that I would take advantage of movement, exercise, and of being able to be fully in my body.”

However, by becoming more active, Oprah gradually improved her well-being. And she shared that amid her recovery, she began hiking. “Every day, I tried to hike more and do more,” recalled Winfrey. “My appreciation for every organ and every limb has expanded exponentially.”

Tell us what you think. How do you feel about Oprah Winfrey slamming the use of weight loss drugs? And after you share your views, check back on our site for more celebrity news.

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com