Oprah Winfrey has opened up the floor for a candid discussion on obesity and her own past weight loss struggles.
The media impresario recently facilitated a panel, Oprah Daily’s “The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight,” where she discussed obesity and measures to combat the “chronic disease.” She held the conversation with obesity specialists Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Dr. Melanie Jay, psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman and Sima Sistani, the CEO of WeightWatchers.
The 68-year-old recalled her own issues with weight and how different she was treated when she was over 200 lbs.
“You all know I’ve been on this journey for most of my life,” she told the audience. “My highest weight was 237 lbs. I don’t know if there is another public person whose weight struggle has been exploited as much as mine over the years. You all have watched me diet and diet and diet …. a recurring thing because my body always seems to want to go back to a certain weight.”
Oprah then remembered times when she would go shopping for clothing and would be treated much different as someone overweight.
“This is a world that has shamed people for being overweight forever,” Oprah said. “And all of us who’ve lived it know that people treat you differently, they just do. It’s that thing where people are like, ‘Let me show you the gloves. Would you like to look at the handbags? Because we know that there’s nothing in here for you.’ There is a condescension. There is stigma.”
However, the OWN network creator spoke of ways she slimmed down, including her thoughts on the usage of the FDA-approved type 2 diabetes medication, Ozempic.
“The drug works in the brain to impact satiety, and is the latest Hollywood weight loss trend,” according to PEOPLE.
The Weight Watchers stakeholder also urged her viewers to love themselves no matter what body size they’re in — whilst admitting that she initially felt that if she took Ozempic, it was “an easy way out.”
“Shouldn’t we all just be more accepting of whatever body you choose to be in? That should be your choice,” she said. “Even when I first started hearing about the weight loss drugs, at the same time I was going through knee surgery, and I felt, ‘I’ve got to do this on my own.’ Because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out.'”
Referring to no longer feeling ashamed of how she choses to lose weight, she added, “It should be yours to own and not to be shamed about it. As a person who’s been shamed for so many years, I’m just sick of it. I’m just sick of it. I’m just sick of it.”
“And I hope this conversation begins the un-shaming.”
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