In a recent series of candid revelations, Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg have shared their personal experiences with weight loss, shedding light on the use of medications and the emotional journey behind their transformations.
Oprah Winfrey, in an interview with People magazine in December, disclosed that she now takes Ozempic to help maintain her current weight. However, she emphasized that her actual weight loss process involved intense physical effort. “It was all sweat, sweat, and sweat,” Oprah told Jimmy Kimmel during a Thursday night appearance. “I had to prove that I could do it on my own, even though I was constantly hearing people talk about medications. I felt like I’ve got to do it.”
Oprah’s discussion on Kimmel’s show was part of the promotion for her ABC Prime Time special, “Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution,” which aired recently. This special has sparked conversations about the stigma surrounding weight loss and the various methods people use to achieve their goals.
Inspired by Oprah’s honesty, Whoopi Goldberg decided to share her own story on “The View.” “I weighed almost 300 pounds when I made ‘Till,'” Whoopi revealed, referring to the film that premiered in October 2022 but was shot a year earlier. In June 2021, Whoopi had a major health scare due to sciatica, a condition involving a bulging disc in the back that affects the sciatic nerve, causing severe pain down the leg. This health crisis, compounded by the weight gain from steroids and other medications, prompted her to reassess her health.
Whoopi recounted a pivotal moment when she saw her reflection and realized the extent of her weight gain. “I always felt like me, but then I saw me and thought, ‘That’s a lot of me,'” she said. Determined to make a change, Whoopi turned to one of the new weight loss drugs, Mounjaro. “One of the things that’s helped me drop the weight is Mounjaro,” she shared.
Whoopi is not alone in her experience. Her co-host, Sunny Hostin, also opened up about her struggle with weight. During the pandemic, Sunny gained 40 pounds, which she initially attributed to her love for cooking and eating. The virtual format of “The View” allowed her to hide the weight gain from the audience and herself. However, returning to the studio in September 2021 made it harder to ignore.
Sunny disclosed that her cholesterol levels had spiked to 200 with the weight gain, but after using Mounjaro, her cholesterol dropped to 140. “I feel better. I think I look better, and that’s what this is about for people,” she said.
The openness of both Whoopi and Sunny about their use of weight loss medications has resonated with many. “You have to take responsibility for yourself and see what’s going on with your body,” Whoopi concluded. Their stories highlight the personal nature of weight loss journeys and the importance of finding what works best for each individual, whether through traditional methods or medical assistance.
By sharing their experiences, Oprah, Whoopi, and Sunny hope to reduce the stigma around weight loss medications and encourage a more compassionate and understanding perspective on health and wellness.
WATCH FULL VIDEO BELOW:
