Oprah Winfrey is leaving her WeightWatchers partnership behind after nearly a decade.
The talk show veteran who recently admitted to using a weight-loss drug to shed her unwanted pounds, says that even though the tie-in is being severed, she still plans to work with its CEO to “elevate” the “conversation” around obesity.
A WeightWatchers statement said Winfrey’s decision was “not the result of any disagreement” or “any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”
“Oprah is an inspiring presence and passionate advocate both for our members and for society at large, in elevating the conversation around weight health. While I and the rest of our directors will certainly miss her in our board meetings following the end of her current term, she remains a strong strategic voice and collaborator with WeightWatchers,” the company’s CEO Sima Sistanim said on a recent call with investors.
“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma and advocating for health equity,” Winfrey said in a statement.
“I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yo-ing,” the media mogul recently told People about using an undisclosed weight-loss drug to maintain her figure.
“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 stated. “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”
Her remarks came as WeightWatchers announced its program dedicated to users using weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
