Oprah, 71, Opens Up About How Ozempic Gave Her a New Perspective on Being Thin

Oprah Winfrey says taking weight-loss medication changed the way she thinks about thin people. The media mogul, 71, confirmed she uses a GLP-1 drug to help manage her weight, though she hasn’t named the specific medication.

On her Super Soul podcast, Winfrey said she once believed slimmer people had more willpower. “They ate better foods. They were able to stick to it longer. They never had a potato chip,” she explained.

But after taking the medication, she realized it wasn’t about self-control. Instead, she noticed that thinner people experience less “food noise,” the constant intrusive thoughts about eating. “I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that they’re not even thinking about it. They’re eating when they’re hungry and they’re stopping when they’re full,” Winfrey said.

GLP-1 medications, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, work by slowing digestion and reducing cravings, which helps lessen food-related thoughts. For Winfrey, the drug allowed her to eat more intuitively and maintain a healthier lifestyle, something she struggled with publicly for decades.

Winfrey also spoke about the pressure she faced in the public eye. She described being humiliated for her weight, saying, “Every week [I was] exploited by the tabloids, anytime any comedian wanted to make fun or make a joke about it, they would make a joke about it. And I accepted it because I thought I deserved it.”

This experience shaped how she viewed dieting and self-discipline until she tried the medication. She noted that the intuitive eating many people take for granted doesn’t come naturally when struggling with obesity.

Oprah’s reflections highlight how much public pressure and misinformation can shape our views about weight and willpower. Her experience shows that managing weight is not just about self-control, it can involve biology and tools that help reduce cravings. What do you think about using medications like GLP-1 to manage weight? Share your thoughts in the comments.