Oprah Winfrey has never been afraid to face tough conversations, but opening up about her use of GLP-1 weight loss medication proved to be one of her most nerve-wracking moments yet. When she first spoke publicly about it in an interview with PEOPLE two years ago, the media mogul admitted she knew the backlash would be intense—and she was right. Acknowledging medication use placed her squarely in the middle of a heated debate about obesity, discipline, and modern medicine.
For decades, Winfrey’s weight has been the subject of relentless public scrutiny. Admitting that she turned to medical support felt risky, but it also marked a turning point. What followed wasn’t just a physical change, but a shift in how she understood her body and her health.
That shift began during a July 2023 discussion on obesity with medical experts, when Winfrey experienced what she described as a life-altering realization. She came to understand that overeating isn’t the root cause of obesity, but rather a symptom of it. The insight reframed years of self-blame and challenged the familiar narrative of willpower versus failure. Instead, it highlighted how biology, hormones, and genetics play a powerful role in weight regulation.
GLP-1 medications helped her manage appetite and blood sugar by addressing those biological factors directly. For Winfrey, the treatment offered relief from the constant internal battle she had fought for years, replacing shame with clarity.
Then came an unexpected twist. On her 70th birthday in January 2024, Winfrey decided to stop taking the medication. She wanted to test whether lifestyle changes alone would be enough, hoping to prove to herself that she could maintain her progress without pharmaceutical help. She stuck to healthy habits but removed the medication entirely.
Over the following year, the results were undeniable. Despite her discipline and effort, she gained 20 pounds. The experience confirmed what science had suggested all along and led Winfrey to accept that the medication wasn’t a temporary fix, but a long-term part of managing her health. She likened it to taking medication for blood pressure—necessary, not shameful.
That understanding is explored further in her book Enough: Your Health, Your Weight and What It’s Like to Be Free, co-written with Yale obesity researcher Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff. The book introduces the idea of an “Enough Point,” a weight range the body naturally defends. For Winfrey, that number had been around 211 pounds, a weight at which she says she was not healthy and was dealing with pre-diabetes and high cholesterol.
Breaking free from that set point changed more than her physical health. It reshaped her relationship with herself. Today, Winfrey is focused on advocacy and education, helping others understand the science of obesity rather than pushing any specific treatment. She wants people to know that genetics matter and that blame helps no one.
Perhaps the biggest transformation has been emotional. Winfrey says she’s finally let go of the shame that followed her for years. No more apologies, no more self-punishment—just a new chapter defined by understanding, acceptance, and honesty.
