In the latest episode of “The Oprah Podcast”, Oprah Winfrey delved into the world of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, discussing their function, safety, and impact on those battling obesity.
Her guest, Dr. Ania Jastreboff, an endocrinologist and associate professor at the Yale School of Medicine, provided expert insights into these revolutionary drugs.
Winfrey, who has famously struggled with her weight throughout her career, shared her personal experience with GLP-1 medication.
Having almost reached her goal weight of 72kg, she reflected on how these drugs reshaped her understanding of weight loss.
“One of the things I realised the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years I thought that thin people had more willpower,” she revealed. “They ate better foods. They were able to stick to it longer. They never had a potato chip.”
The turning point came when she recognised that what she perceived as willpower in others was, in fact, an absence of intrusive hunger thoughts—often referred to as “food noise.”
GLP-1 medications work by reducing cravings and slowing digestion, helping individuals eat only when hungry and stop when full. “They’re not even thinking about it,” Winfrey noted. “They’re eating when they’re hungry and stopping when they’re full.”
Obesity, Winfrey emphasised, is a disease that cannot be overcome by willpower alone. She also addressed the public scrutiny she’s faced due to her weight, describing decades of being bullied by tabloids’ headlines.
“Every week I was exploited by the tabloids. Anytime any comedian wanted to make a joke, it was about my weight. And I accepted it because I thought I deserved it,” she admitted.
However, she’s now realised that her size didn’t make her “less than” others.
Initially hesitant, Winfrey felt compelled to prove her willpower before turning to weight-loss drugs. However, a panel discussion with weight-loss experts in mid-2023 prompted an epiphany.
“I realised 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,” she shared.
The revelation led her to release her shame and consult her doctor, who prescribed the medication. This decision has not only transformed her own life but also inspired others to consider medical interventions without guilt.
Now, Winfrey follows a routine that includes having her last meal by 4pm, drinking 5 litres of water daily, and adhering to WeightWatchers principles.
She combines this with exercise, acknowledging that her holistic approach is vital for maintaining her progress. “I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me,” she explained.
Winfrey has long been an advocate for removing stigma around weight and health.
Her 2023 TV documentary, “An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution”, tackled the societal judgment surrounding weight-loss drugs. “As a person who has been shamed for so many years about my weight, I am just sick of it,” she said.
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