During a three-hour live WeightWatchers special, Oprah Winfrey took accountability for promoting unsustainable methods of weight loss over the years. Being a major contributor to diet culture through her platforms, talk show, and magazine for the past 25 years, Winfrey acknowledged her role in promoting weight loss shows and makeovers. She expressed regret over a particular moment on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” when she displayed a red Radio Flyer wagon filled with 67 pounds of fat, representing her weight loss after an intense liquid-only fast. This incident set a standard that could not be upheld, sending a harmful message to viewers.
Joining Winfrey during the WeightWatchers special were actresses Rebel Wilson, Amber Riley, and Busy Philipps, along with WeightWatchers CEO Sima Sistani and several doctors. They discussed the brand’s shift from promoting dieting to becoming a weight-health company, emphasizing the assistance of medical intervention through drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The group also highlighted the importance of body positivity and reassured viewers that there is no shame in seeking medical help for weight loss. Despite previously criticizing weight-loss medications as an “easy way out,” Winfrey revealed that she lost 40 pounds using a weight-loss medication in December 2023.
Feeling relief, redemption, and gratitude for the existence of medically approved prescriptions for managing weight and maintaining health, Winfrey expressed a desire to end external and self-imposed shaming. She emphasized that she was done with criticism from others and herself. Following her weight loss revelation and discussions on prescription medications for weight management, Winfrey decided to step down from the WeightWatchers board of directors after nearly a decade of collaboration with the company to avoid any conflicts of interest. She subsequently donated all her shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture to prevent any allegations of financial gain from her involvement in the special about prescription weight-loss medications.
In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Winfrey explained her decision to resign from the WeightWatchers board, stating that she wanted to host a special on prescription weight-loss medications without facing any conflicts. She emphasized that the special was crucial to her and that she wanted the freedom to discuss any topics she deemed important. By leaving the board and donating her shares, Winfrey ensured that her intentions for the special could not be misconstrued as a means of personal financial gain. This move allowed her to maintain integrity and transparency in her involvement in initiatives promoting weight health and medical interventions for weight loss without any perceived conflicts of interest.
