Oprah Winfrey gets real about body image struggles following weight loss: ‘I blamed and shamed myself'
After undergoing knee surgery in 2021, Winfrey says she found a new relationship with her body. What started with physical therapy turned into daily hikes. 'I could eventually hike three to five miles every day. I felt stronger, more fit, and more alive than I'd felt in years,' she told People.
Also read: Oprah Winfrey says taking weight loss drugs has changed her opinion of 'thin people'
Winfrey opens up about role of medication in losing weight
Winfrey confirmed she now uses a doctor-prescribed GLP-1 medication. She did not name the drug but said it helped her stop blaming herself for her weight struggles. 'I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control. I now use it as I feel I need it – as a tool to avoid yo-yoing,' she said.
The star decided to moderate a panel on weight and obesity for Oprah Daily. 'My highest weight was 237 pounds,' she said. Still, she insists medication alone isn't enough. 'It's not one thing, it's everything. I know that if I'm not also working out and being vigilant, it doesn't work for me,' Winfrey told People.
Also read: Expert says on Oprah Winfrey's show 'never sleep with your phone, keep it in bathroom'. Explains why it causes anxiety
Winfrey talks about the shame and stigma around body weight
The talk show host shared that she felt judged in stores and on red carpets when she weighed more. 'Let me show you the gloves. Would you like to look at the handbags? There is a condescension. There is stigma,' she recalled.
Winfrey also revealed she was once told to lose weight during a TV appearance in the 1980s. 'I just sat there smiling breezily, wanting nothing more than to crawl under my chair,' she said in her 2017 cookbook Food, Health, and Happiness.
She no longer has a specific number in mind. 'I don't have a goal in mind, I'll know what it is when I get there,' Winfrey said in a 2020 WeightWatchers Q&A. She added that she still uses their point system and stops eating by 4 p.m.
FAQs
How did Oprah Winfrey finally lose weight?
She combined regular exercise, a balanced diet using WeightWatchers principles, and a doctor-prescribed weight-loss medication.
What weight loss surgery did Oprah have?
Oprah didn't have weight-loss surgery; she underwent knee surgery in 2021, which helped her return to daily physical activity.
How long did it take Oprah to lose 67 pounds?
While she hasn't confirmed losing exactly 67 pounds, she has shared her progress gradually over several years, including a 26-pound loss with WeightWatchers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
India's Obesity Crisis Meets ‘Miracle Drugs' — Are We 'Flying Blind' Into Another Health Disaster?
New Delhi: As India grapples with a staggering 254 million people living with overweight or obesity, the arrival of weight-loss drugs or weight-related drugs has ignited both hope—and alarm. At an exclusive Healthworld webinar, top Indian clinicians warned: this could be a transformative moment in chronic disease care , or it could spiral into unregulated chaos. The experts had one message in unison: GLP-1s are not to be used as cosmetics. They are clinical tools. And misuse could unleash a crisis. The webinar titled 'Weighing In: India's Medical Weight-loss Revolution,' the session brought together leading cardiologists, endocrinologists, and surgeons to examine to know if the new class of drugs are helping into major shift India's obesity or getting on to be a pandora's box. The leading doctors participating in the panel were Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Dr. Shashank Joshi, Consultant, Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre and Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala, Director, General Surgery & Minimal Access Surgical Sciences, Edge & Reliance Foundation Hospital. A few of the drugs in India that are used for weight-loss include Orlistat, Liraglutide (Victoza), Semaglutide (Wegovy and Rybelsus) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Among these, Orlistat is one of the early drugs that was specifically approved for obesity treatment, while the others are among the newly approved for weight loss treatment. Just as the hype grows, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has reached the Delhi High Court, warning against the aggressive marketing and uncontrolled sale of GLP-1 drugs in gyms and wellness clinics. As the drugs grow in popularity, they are increasingly being peddled without prescriptions, fuelling fears of another health disaster. 'These are prescription-only drugs,' warned Dr Shashank Joshi, leading endocrinologist from Lilavati Hospital. 'They are meant for high-risk patients with obesity and metabolic diseases—not for healthy people chasing cosmetic goals. Dispensing them without supervision is not just illegal—it's dangerous.' A New Era in Obesity Treatment—If Done Right Unlike the banned appetite suppressants of the past, GLP-1 receptor agonists come with robust evidence from global trials. The SELECT trial showed a 20 per cent reduction in major cardiovascular events in patients treated with semaglutide. 'Obesity is no longer about appearance. It's a chronic, systemic disease,' said Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute. 'For the first time, we have a pharmacological tool that reduces not just weight, but real, hard endpoints like heart attacks and strokes. That changes everything.' Dr. Muffazal Lakdawala, renowned bariatric surgeon, was blunt: 'India is sitting on a ticking obesity bomb. And if we let these drugs turn into gym-floor fads, we will be repeating the antibiotic misuse crisis.' He added, 'These are not shortcuts to six-packs. They are meant for carefully selected patients. I reject 90 per cent of surgical weight-loss requests for being inappropriate—now imagine how many unqualified people are chasing these drugs for the wrong reasons.' One of the most powerful takeaways from the panel was the push to reframe obesity not as a failure of will power but as a chronic, relapsing medical condition—with roots in genetics, environment, and biology. 'We must stop fat-shaming,' said Dr. Joshi. 'And we must stop using outdated tools like BMI alone. Indian bodies are metabolically different—what we call 'thin-fat'—lean on the outside but high in visceral fat and risk inside.' Experts informed that lifestyle change remains essential, but for many, especially those with BMI over 27 with comorbidities, GLP-1 drugs may be the difference between disease progression and reversal. The panel stressed that with power comes responsibility. India lacks a real-time pharmacovigilance system to monitor off-label use or adverse effects—unlike in the US or Europe. 'We are flying blind,' said Dr. Joshi. 'Without safeguards, this miracle will become a mess. Regulators must enforce prescription protocols and clamp down on black-market supply before it's too late.' Talking about the affordability vs access of these weight-loss drugs the experts informed that with semaglutide injections priced at ₹26,000/month, affordability remains a major hurdle. But doctors argued that the cost of untreated obesity—dialysis, bypass surgeries, stroke rehab—is far higher. Dr Lakdawala put it simply: 'We must think in terms of cost-effectiveness, not sticker price. And as generics enter the market, access can improve—but only if regulation keeps pace.' This Is Science, Not Vanity Across the board, experts made an urgent appeal to ditch the 'weight-loss drug' label. 'These are disease-modifying agents that can prevent diabetes, reverse fatty liver, and cut heart disease,' said Dr. Seth. 'Calling them cosmetic trivializes their life-saving potential.' Dr. Joshi added, 'Let's not rob the sick to serve the slim. Off-label demand abroad has already caused shortages. India must prioritize medical need, not market hype.' India stands at a crucial crossroads. With GLP-1 drugs offering a powerful tool to manage obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, the path forward must be one of caution, regulation, education, and equity, added experts. Summing it up well, Dr Joshi said, "We are in the best of times for chronic disease innovation. But we're also in the worst of times—if we let hype override science.'
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Telangana HC directs immediate termination of minor rape victim's 22-week pregnancy
The Telangana High Court in Hyderabad recently directed state authorities to immediately take steps for the medical termination of pregnancy of a 17-year-old victim of trafficking based on the recommendation of a medical board. The bench of Justice K Sarath pronounced the order on July 9 in response to a writ petition filed by M/s Prajwala, an organisation dedicated to victims of human trafficking. The bench had on July 1 directed the state government and the superintendent of Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad to immediately constitute a medical board to examine the request of the petitioner for medical termination of the rape victim's 21-week pregnancy and inform the court of its opinion within a week. The petition sought directions to the state's Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department; the Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens; and Gandhi Medical Hospital to conduct necessary medical tests on the minor and grant permission for the termination of her pregnancy. The petitioner, represented by senior counsel Deepak Misra, argued that the continuation of the pregnancy would cause grave injury to the minor victim. During the proceedings, the Assistant Government Pleader for Medical and Health presented a report from the medical board dated July 8, 2025. The report, prepared after examining the victim, unequivocally opined that '…as per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 2021 Amendment Section (3) explanation (2), the pregnancy of the victim girl can be terminated.' The court stated, 'In view of the report of the Medical Board, the pregnancy of the victim girl can be terminated and the victim girl is also willing for termination of her pregnancy. In view of the same, the respondent authorities are directed to take steps for termination of pregnancy of the victim girl forthwith.' Rahul V Pisharody is an Assistant Editor with the Indian Express Online and has been reporting from Telangana on various issues since 2019. Besides a focused approach to big news developments, Rahul has a keen interest in stories about Hyderabad and its inhabitants and looks out for interesting features on the city's heritage, environment, history culture etc. His articles are straightforward and simple reads in sync with the context. Rahul started his career as a journalist in 2011 with The New Indian Express and worked in different roles at the Hyderabad bureau for over 8 years. As Deputy Metro Editor, he was in charge of the Hyderabad bureau of the newspaper and coordinated with the team of district correspondents, centres and internet desk for over three years. A native of Palakkad in Kerala, Rahul has a Master's degree in Communication (Print and New Media) from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. Long motorcycle rides and travel photography are among his other interests. ... Read More
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
8 hours ago
- Business Standard
Aurobindo Pharma to manufacture, supply long acting HIV treatment drug
The Hyderabad-based drugmaker has been selected as one of the generic manufacturers under the expanded voluntary licensing agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool and ViiV Healthcare Press Trust of India Aurobindo Pharma on Tuesday said it will manufacture and supply the long-acting injectable HIV treatment cabotegravir across 133 countries. The Hyderabad-based drugmaker has been selected as one of the generic manufacturers under the expanded voluntary licensing agreement between the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) and ViiV Healthcare, the company said in a statement. The agreement allows Aurobindo to manufacture and supply the long-acting injectable HIV treatment across 133 countries, including several low and middle-income markets, it added. This update now includes long-acting cabotegravir (CAB LA) for HIV treatment, in addition to its earlier use for prevention only. The treatment offers an alternative to daily pills, allowing patients to receive just one injection every one or two months. "We are privileged to be part of the sub-license expansion from MPP and ViiV to develop, manufacture, and distribute generic CAB LA in select markets for the treatment of HIV-1, in addition to the voluntary licence for PrEP," Aurobindo Pharma Vice Chairman & Managing Director K Nithyananda Reddy said. This is a significant and timely step towards increasing access to advanced long-acting treatment in LMICs, he added. Aurobindo remains committed to leveraging its global supply capabilities to make this vital combination long-acting injection therapy widely available and affordable, he stated. The consideration by ViiV and MPP to include the private market in royalty-bearing countries is a critical step toward expanding access across both public and private sectors, it added. ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), have announced an update to their voluntary licensing agreement to include patents relating to its use in a long-acting regimen. The announcement follows updated guidance from the WHO recommending long-acting injectable cabotegravir + rilpivirine as an HIV treatment option. Existing generic licensees for prevention will be able to develop, manufacture and supply generic CAB LA, for use in combination with long-acting rilpivirine, subject to required regulatory approvals, to help enable access to the long-acting treatment in 133 countries worldwide. This includes all least-developed, low-income, lower middle-income, and Sub-Saharan African countries, as well as countries where ViiV does not have patent rights for cabotegravir.
