Oprah Winfrey Under Fire After Sharing Discovery She Made About ‘Thin People’ Due To Ozempic

Oprah Winfrey has shared the surprising discovery she made due to her experience with Ozempic.

The legendary talk show host revealed that taking Ozempic made her realize a startling truth about “thin people,” as she’d normally link their weight to their strong “willpower” but was forced to reconsider when she started taking the miracle weight loss drug.

Oprah Winfrey previously denied using Ozempic to achieve her shocking weight drop but later came clean, decrying the scrutiny that follows the drug use.

Oprah Winfrey Reveals What She Learned About ‘Thin People’

Winfrey has seemingly been forced to change her stance about “thin people” and the way they maintain their weight.

The 70-year-old explained that she usually thought “thin people” appear the way they do because of their “willpower.”

However, once she started taking ozempic, she realized this “willpower” was just the absence of intrusive hunger thoughts, often referred to as “food noise.”

Winfrey made the startling revelation on the latest episode of her podcast, where she discussed the function and safety of these types of drugs with guest Dr. Ania Jastreboff.

“One of the things that I realized the very first time I took a GLP-1 was that all these years, I thought that thin people had more willpower,” Winfrey admitted, per the Daily Mail. “They ate better foods. They were able to stick to it longer. They never had a potato chip.”

“And then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, they’re not even thinking about it,” she continued. “They’re eating when they’re hungry, and they’re stopping when they’re full.”

GLP-1 medications like ozempic and Wegovy are typically used to regulate blood sugar levels and have been shown to aid in weight loss, as well as help eradicate “food noise” by reducing cravings and slowing down digestion.

The Former Talk Show Host Has Come Under Fire For Her Claim About ‘Thin People’

Winfrey garnered the ire of many online with her bold claim on “thin people,” particularly sparking debate about “food noise.”

“I beg to differ,” one person wrote. “My experience is that while I may be thin… I do think about food, & I would love to snack at my time. Not immune to the cravings.”

“Thin people also think about food all the time, but they work hard to manage their physical and mental needs in a healthy way, and not by taking medications,” another user penned.

“There are many thin people or others who are a healthy weight but not necessarily ‘thin’ who do in fact draw on willpower and strategic tactics to keep their weight down. They create an environment that unlike most of our society, is NOT obesogenic,” a third person noted, adding that they “forbid” themselves from eating until they have “walked for an hour.”

“Just because you are on a new bandwagon doesn’t mean that you should speak in a way that suggests your perception of reality is definitive. It is not,” the individual concluded.

Winfrey received some support for her stance on the issue amid the criticisms.

“Food noise is real,” a user wrote, while another added, “I’m so glad we’re continuing this very important conversation! Thank you @Oprah for using your platform to share the science, along with the personal stories!”

Oprah Winfrey Once Criticized The Use Of Ozempic

Winfrey had previously denied using Ozempic to lose weight, slamming the method as an “easy way out.”

However, she came clean in 2023 after admitting it helped her shed nearly 50 pounds following decades of yo-yo dieting.

“The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for,” Winfrey told People Magazine.

She noted at the time that she was “done with the shaming” as she revealed that she used the drug to drop 40lbs (18kg) while also incorporating regular exercise, such as hiking, to help her achieve her weight goal.

Winfrey also revealed that she weighed up to weighed 237lbs (107.5kg) at her heaviest.

Oprah Winfrey Talks About Being Ridiculed For Her Weight

In her conversation with Dr. Jastreboff, the former “Oprah Winfrey Show” host discussed the public ridicule she was forced to endure for her weight throughout her career.

She said that she now realizes that her size doesn’t make her feel “less than” others and that she didn’t deserve that treatment.

“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,” Winfrey explained.

Why She Started Paying Attention To Her Health

Winfrey has talked about paying attention to her health and her quest to live a “more vital and vibrant life.”

She explained at the time that a knee surgery she underwent in 2021 made her get serious about her health, going on to outline her workout regimen.

The ace broadcaster added that her fitness and health routine are integral to maintaining her weight loss, saying, “It’s everything. I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”

“I had an awareness of [weight-loss] medications, but felt I had to prove I had the willpower to do it. I now no longer feel that way,” she added, per People.