Oprah Winfrey, who once weighed 107kg, says "I was tempted by obesity drugs but lost weight on my own"

Expressing Struggles with Obesity on Personal Broadcast
"My Highest Weight Was 107kg"

Famous American broadcaster Oprah Winfrey (69) confessed that she has long struggled with obesity and felt shame about her body.

On the 21st (local time), according to CNN and other U.S. media, Winfrey recently held a discussion with related experts on the topic of "weight loss" in a personal broadcast program posted on her own website, 'Oprah Daily.'

On that day, Winfrey revealed, "My highest weight was 237 pounds (107.5 kg)," and added, "I don't know if there is any other celebrity who has been tormented by fighting weight for as long as I have."

She lamented that she was once targeted by tabloid newspapers because of her obesity. She also said, "I was ashamed of my lack of willpower to lose weight."

Oprah Winfrey [Photo by Yonhap News]

Winfrey said, "This world has shamed people for being overweight, and we know that people treat you differently based on your weight," pointing out, "I was treated differently when I was over 200 pounds (90.7 kg) and when I was under that."

She emphasized that it is not shameful to find weight loss difficult, saying, "But I think there is a difference between how the brain responds to food and your willpower."

Fatima Cody Stanford, an associate professor at Stanford University and an obesity expert who participated in the conversation with Winfrey that day, also explained, "Weight loss is not a matter of willpower," adding, "Because our bodies regulate weight differently."

One audience member revealed that they lost more than 40 kg using the obesity treatment drug 'Ozempic.' In response, Winfrey said, "I have thought about using medication," but added, "When I first started hearing about weight loss drugs, I was recovering from knee surgery, and at that time, I felt I had to do it on my own."

Winfrey reportedly began hiking for rehabilitation after her knee surgery. As her activity level increased, she was able to maintain her health, emphasizing, "I became grateful for all my organs and limbs."

Winfrey added, "No matter what kind of body we choose to have, shouldn't we accept it more openly?"