Oprah Winfrey, the iconic talk show host and media mogul, has expressed her disapproval of using Ozempic, a prescription drug for type 2 diabetes, as a weight loss aid. She made the remark during a panel discussion with obesity experts on Wednesday’s episode of Oprah Daily’s The Life You Want: The State of Weight.
Oprah’s weight loss journey
Winfrey has been open about her struggles with weight loss for most of her life. She revealed that her highest weight was 237 pounds and that she was constantly shamed in the tabloids for not having the “willpower” to lose weight. She said that she did not know if there was another public person whose weight struggle had been exploited as much as hers over the years.
Winfrey also shared that she almost used Ozempic herself after undergoing knee surgery in 2021. She said that she felt that she had to do it on her own, because if she took the drug, that would be the easy way out. She added that she bought a 10 percent stake in Weight Watchers in 2015 and that she believed that people should be more accepting of whatever body they choose to be in.
Ozempic and its popularity
Ozempic is a medication that is used to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It works by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin and by slowing down the digestion of food. One of its side effects is weight loss, which has made it attractive to some celebrities and influencers who want to shed some pounds.
Some of the famous names who have endorsed Ozempic for weight loss include Rebel Wilson, Adele, Kelly Osbourne, and Jonah Hill. They have claimed that the drug helped them achieve their fitness goals and improve their health. However, Ozempic is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for weight loss and it can have serious risks such as low blood sugar, kidney problems, pancreatitis, and thyroid cancer.
Obesity and its challenges
According to Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, one of the obesity specialists who joined Winfrey on the panel, obesity is a chronic disease that affects 2 billion people around the world. She said that obesity is not about willpower or fault, but about how the body regulates weight and that each person is different and unique.
Dr. Stanford also said that obesity can have many causes, such as genetics, environment, stress, trauma, medications, and hormones. She said that obesity can lead to many complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and depression. She said that people with obesity need individualized treatment plans that may include lifestyle changes, counseling, medication, or surgery.
Dr. Stanford also expressed her sympathy for Winfrey and her experience with weight stigma. She said that it was hard to see her ostracized in the way that she had been and that she hoped that people would be more compassionate and respectful towards people with obesity.
