In a surprising turn of events, Oprah Winfrey has opened up about her decision to leave WeightWatchers after admitting to using weight loss drugs. The media mogul’s revelation has sparked curiosity and raised eyebrows, prompting questions about her journey towards health and wellness. Let’s delve into Oprah’s candid explanation and uncover the insights behind her departure from the popular weight loss program.
Know Why Oprah Resigned From WeightWatchers Board
Oprah Winfrey says that her work on a planned TV show about the effects of prescription weight-loss drugs helped her decide to step down from the board of WeightWatchers after almost 10 years.
It was revealed by WeightWatchers last month that the talk show host was quitting. She talked about it on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday.
Winfrey explained, “I decided that because this special was really important to me and I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I want to talk about, and WeightWatchers is now in the business of being a weight health company that also administers drug medications for weight, I did not want to have the appearance of any conflict of interest.”
Entertainment mogul and TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey said she decided to exit the board of directors WeightWatchers — after nearly a decade — to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. https://t.co/4F0R0D7g5y
— Variety (@Variety) March 15, 2024
She also said, “So I resigned from the board and I gave—donated all of my shares to the National Museum of African American History [and Culture]. So nobody can say: ‘Oh, she’s doing that special, she’s making money, and promoting…’ No, you cannot say that.”
In December, it was revealed that Oprah Winfrey’s weight loss of 42 pounds was mainly due to an unnamed weight loss drug. In An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution, which will air on ABC on Monday, she looks at the rise of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
In a news release about the special, the network said, “For the first time in history, new drugs could be the game changer to stem the tide of people living with obesity. This is an epidemic that has grown exponentially since the 1970s and costs $173 billion a year in medical costs in the United States alone.”
In an episode with Kimmel, Winfrey said that she was first motivated to lose weight without using weight-loss drugs while she was recovering from knee surgery in 2021. Doctors told the founder of OWN, though, that “obesity is a disease” and that her weight will always change.
She said, “I’ve been in the storm of losing the weight, gaining it back. Losing the weight, gaining it back, and what I realized when I listened to what the doctor said, that you are always going to put it back on, and it’s like holding your breath underwater and trying not to rise.”
Recently, prescription drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have become more popular because they help people lose weight in ways that aren’t listed on the labels. Ozempic is a shot that is given once a week to treat Type 2 diabetes. It works by mimicking a hormone that controls hunger and makes you feel full.
“Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution,” Winfrey’s special, will talk about the effects of prescription weight loss drugs and the questions and worries people have about these famous medications. The show airs on ABC on Monday, March 18, at 8 p.m. ET.
If you want to know more details about Oprah Winfrey, click below:
You can follow us on our website, Thecurrent-online.com, to learn more about the daily lives of other stars, such as their weight gain or loss, health, and other topics.