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‘I Took on the Shame That the World Gave to Me’
Oprah Winfrey was emotional during her ABC special, “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution,” discussing the transformative effects of weight loss medication on individuals. The special delved into the growing popularity of medications like Ozempic and the stigma surrounding weight management. Winfrey shared her personal journey with weight and announced her decision to step down from the board of Weight Watchers. The program aimed to release the shame and judgment associated with obesity, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to weight loss. Medical experts discussed the biological factors contributing to weight gain and the effectiveness of weight loss drugs. Discover the inspiring stories of Amy and Maggie, whose weight loss journeys have led to remarkable improvements in their health. Amy, a diabetic mother, achieved normal levels of A1C, cholesterol, and liver enzymes after losing weight with Mounjaro. Maggie, a teenager who underwent bariatric surgery at 13, found success with Victoza, an FDA-approved weight management medication. Dr. Jennifer Ashton warns of potential side effects of weight loss medications, emphasizing the importance of managing obesity as a chronic disease. Oprah Winfrey encourages viewers to embrace different approaches to weight loss, advocating for support and understanding for all individuals on their journey to better health.
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Oprah Winfrey held back tears during the airing of her ABC special, Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution Monday night as she spoke to a woman who participated in Oprah Daily’s “The State of Weight” Panel last September who’s since lost 85 pounds after using an unnamed weight loss medication.
“There is now a sense of hope, and you no longer blame yourself,” Winfrey said as her voice began to crack. “When I tell you how many times I have blamed myself because you think, ‘I’m smart enough to figure this out,’ and then to hear all along it’s you fighting your brain.”
The special, which will be available for streaming on Hulu on Tuesday along with an exclusive audience Q&A, brought together medical experts, patients and members of the pharmaceutical and weight loss industries to discuss the growing popularity of weight loss drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, which Winfrey revealed she’d first been introduced to while recovering from knee surgery in 2021 during the previous panel. Though at the time she had no interest in the budding medical intervention, saying she felt, “I’ve got to do this on my own because if I take the drug, that’s the easy way out,” in a December 2023 People cover story, Winfrey shared that her views on weight management injectables had changed. Admitting to use of an unspecified weight loss medication, she told the outlet, “I had the biggest aha along with many people in that audience. I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”
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That sentiment was the crux of the one-hour special “created for the more than 100 million people in the United States and the over 100 billion people around the world who are living with obesity,” Winfrey said as the program began. “I come to this conversation in the hope that we can start releasing the stigma and the shame and the judgment. To stop shaming other people for being overweight or how they choose to lose or not lose weight and, more importantly, to stop shaming ourselves.
“I have to say that I took on the shame that the world gave to me,” Oprah continued before reciting a series of headlines that have been written about her over the past two decades. “For more than 25 years, making fun of my weight was national sport,” she said. “I was ridiculed on every late night talk show for 25 years and on tabloid covers for 25 years.”
In addition to discussing her widely documented personal struggle with weight, Winfrey also addressed her decision to step down from the board of Weight Watchers last month after being the face of the brand for nearly 10 years.
“I recently made the decision to not continue serving on the board of Weight Watchers and I made that decision because I wanted no perceived conflict of interest for this special. I also donated all of my shares in Weight Watchers to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture so that I could have a conversation with you, Sima Sistani,” Winfrey said introducing the CEO of Weight Watchers who spoke about the brand’s new philosophy and its decision to purchase a weight loss medication company.
“We are the most clinically tested, evidence-based, science-backed, behavior-change program, but we were missing the third prong, which was biology,” Sistani said. “There could be somebody who needs medication because they have that biological underpinning, and what was so important is for us to provide that care and also to help people release the shame.
“For all those people who came side-by-side and took on the behavior change, some of them walked away without the success,” Sistani continued. “And to those people I want to say, it’s not your fault.”
Likening the conversation around the concept of obesity as a disease to the discussions had on The Oprah Winfrey show in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s when alcoholism was first understood to be a disease and not a choice, Winfrey invited Dr. W. Scott Butsch, Director of Obesity Medicine in the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, and Dr. Amanda Velazquez, Director of Obesity Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, to speak to the biological factors that play into weight gain and the mechanisms by which weight loss drugs can counter them. It was disclosed that both physicians are consultants to weight loss drug companies.
“There’s a spectrum of obesity, it’s not one disease, it’s many different subtypes of a disease,” Butsch stated before addressing the pervasive belief that individuals who are overweight and obese have simply failed to control their weight through diet and exercise.
“This is just a reflection of someone’s uneducated belief that this is a self-inflicted condition, as if people who have obesity want to have obesity,” he said.” That these are weaker people who have no willpower and who can’t cut it and people who are thin have willpower and can cut it.”
Though Winfrey never disclosed which medication she’s been prescribed, she spoke with two guests about their positive experience on two of the seven drugs that have now been approved for weight loss. The first was Amy, a diabetic mother whose A1C, cholesterol and liver enzymes have all reached normal levels since losing a significant amount of weight on Mounjaro. And Maggie, a teenager who had bariatric surgery at the age of 13 and was prescribed Victoza, approved by the FDA for weight management in pediatric patients, thereafter, which has helped her stay in a healthy range.
Winfrey also called on Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News medical correspondent, to speak to the negative side effects of weight loss medications which have been widely reported on and noted to include gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and stomach pain.
“If a risk is noted to occur one out of every 100,000 times, that’s rare, that’s one case, but if all of a sudden a million people are on that drug, you’re going to see that rare risk or side effect ten times [more],” Dr. Ashton stated.
“What I tell patients is, if you had high blood pressure, if you had high cholesterol, if you had depression, you would treat it. It is conclusively known that the conditions of overweight and obesity are complex chronic disease states, not character flaws, so they should be managed accordingly.”
Wrapping up the special, Winfrey reiterated her intention to release the judgement surrounding obesity and spoke directly to viewers at home with differing opinions on weight loss medications. “For people who feel happy and healthy celebrating life in a bigger body and don’t want the medications, I say bless you. And for all the people who believe diet and exercise is the best and only way to lose excess weight, bless you too if that works for you,” she stated.
“And for the people who think that this could be the relief and support and freedom that you’ve been looking for your whole life, bless you too because there is space for all points of view.”
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Oprah Winfrey is a household name known for her impactful television shows, media empire, and philanthropic efforts. Recently, she held a special on ABC titled “Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution,” where she discussed the use of weight loss medications such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy. The emotional special delved into the stigma and shame associated with obesity, and Winfrey’s own personal struggles with weight.
In the special, Winfrey shared her journey with weight loss medications, revealing that she had previously been hesitant to try them, feeling that it would be taking the “easy way out.” However, after realizing that her predisposition to weight gain was beyond her control, she decided to give the medications a try. This shift in mindset led her to advocate for releasing the stigma and judgment surrounding weight loss interventions.
The one-hour program featured medical experts, patients, and industry professionals discussing the effectiveness and benefits of weight loss medications. Winfrey emphasized the importance of addressing obesity as a disease rather than a personal failing, drawing parallels to the understanding of alcoholism as a disease in the past.
During the special, Winfrey also addressed her decision to step down from the board of Weight Watchers after nearly a decade of being the face of the brand. She expressed her desire to avoid any perceived conflict of interest for the special and donated all her shares in Weight Watchers to the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.
The conversation around weight loss medications highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to weight management, incorporating behavior change, science-backed programs, and biological factors. The CEO of Weight Watchers, Sima Sistani, emphasized the need to provide care for individuals who may require medication due to biological underpinnings of obesity.
Dr. W. Scott Butsch and Dr. Amanda Velazquez, experts in obesity medicine, discussed the complexities of obesity as a disease and debunked myths about willpower and control. They explained how weight loss medications can help counteract biological factors that contribute to weight gain, providing a new perspective on obesity treatment.
Throughout the special, Winfrey shared stories of individuals who had found success with weight loss medications, emphasizing that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. While she did not disclose the specific medication she’s using, Winfrey’s openness and vulnerability in discussing her struggles with weight resonated with viewers and highlighted the importance of destigmatizing conversations around obesity and weight loss.
In conclusion, Oprah Winfrey’s special on weight loss medications shed light on the complexities of obesity, the role of medication in weight management, and the need to address the stigma and shame associated with weight. By sharing her own journey and advocating for a more compassionate and understanding approach to weight loss, Winfrey sparked important conversations and encouraged viewers to rethink their perceptions of obesity and treatment options. Weight management is a complex and often challenging journey for many individuals, with various factors at play. However, recent advancements in medical treatments and procedures offer hope and support for those struggling with obesity. The use of weight loss medications, such as Victoza, has shown promising results in helping individuals achieve healthier weights and improve their overall well-being.
One notable success story is that of Amy, a diabetic mother who saw significant improvements in her health after losing a substantial amount of weight on Mounjaro. Her A1C, cholesterol, and liver enzymes all reached normal levels, showcasing the positive impact of weight loss on managing chronic conditions. Additionally, Maggie, a teenager who underwent bariatric surgery at a young age, was prescribed Victoza by her healthcare provider to aid in weight management. This medication, approved by the FDA for use in pediatric patients, has helped Maggie maintain a healthy weight range and support her overall health.
During a special segment, Oprah Winfrey highlighted the importance of addressing the stigma surrounding obesity and weight loss medications. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News medical correspondent, discussed the potential side effects of weight loss medications, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and monitoring when using these treatments. While gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pain may occur, the benefits of managing weight-related health conditions often outweigh these risks.
Dr. Ashton also emphasized the complexity of obesity as a chronic disease state, rather than a character flaw, underscoring the importance of managing it accordingly. Just as other chronic conditions like high blood pressure or depression require treatment, obesity should be approached with a similar level of care and attention. Each individual’s journey towards weight management is unique, and different approaches may be necessary to achieve lasting results.
Oprah Winfrey closed the segment by acknowledging the diverse perspectives on weight loss medications and celebrating the variety of paths individuals may take to improve their health. Whether someone chooses to focus on diet and exercise, pursue medical interventions like weight loss medications, or embrace their body as it is, there is space for all viewpoints in the conversation around weight management.
In conclusion, the use of weight loss medications like Victoza can be a valuable tool in supporting individuals on their weight management journey. By working closely with healthcare providers, individuals can explore the options available to them and find a tailored approach that best suits their needs. It’s essential to approach weight management with compassion, understanding, and a focus on overall health and well-being. No matter the path chosen, there is room for all perspectives in the quest for a healthier, happier life.
