Oprah Winfrey Regrets Not Using GLP-1s Sooner

Oprah Winfrey, 71, has opened up about her journey with obesity treatment, expressing deep regret for not utilizing GLP-1 medications earlier in her life. In a candid interview, she described the medication as a necessary "tool" that transformed her relationship with food. Winfrey stated that the "food noise"—the constant mental preoccupation with eating—vanished within hours of her first dose.

She emphasized that viewing obesity as a disease allowed her to release years of personal shame and blame. Winfrey also shared that she attempted to stop the medication but gained 20 pounds, reinforcing her belief that the treatment is a lifelong requirement. Now, she feels a profound appreciation for her health at 71, noting that maintaining wellness at this age requires significantly more effort than it did when she was 40.

In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Winfrey detailed the immediate effects of starting GLP-1 treatment. She reported that the mental burden of food obsession disappeared rapidly. "The 'food noise' in her head went away within hours on the first day she took a GLP-1 medication," the report stated.

Winfrey views the medication as a practical resource rather than a crutch. "There are tools to use that can help you. And I do see it as a tool," she said. Since beginning treatment, she noted a significant shift in her mindset. "I have become indifferent to food. I still love it. I still love it. But I'm not in any way obsessed about it," she explained.

Despite the positive changes, Winfrey expressed sorrow over the decades she spent struggling without medical assistance. She specifically wished she had known about these options in 2013. "I have regret that I didn't discover it in 2013. I have regret that, oh my gosh, this has been going on for over 12 years now, and I didn't know about it," she said.

The emotional weight of her past struggles was evident as she reflected on the shame she carried. "I think about the wasted time. The wasted time, the wasted sadness and shame about it. I think about the wasted years," Winfrey stated. She recalled the frustration of journaling about her weight, wondering why she couldn't conquer the issue on her own.

Winfrey contrasted her current health status with her fitness levels at age 40, when she ran a marathon. While she appreciated her strength then, she believes the value of health at 71 is different. "But there's something about being 71 that gives you a perspective and the long view of appreciation that's unlike any other time in your life," she remarked.

She emphasized that staying in shape now requires much more dedication. "Because what it takes to be in the best shape of your life when you're 71 is a whole lot more than when you're 40," she added. This realization has instilled a deep sense of gratitude for modern medical advancements.

Winfrey revealed that she stopped taking the medication for one year to prove she could manage without it, but the result was a 20-pound weight gain. This experience solidified her understanding that obesity is a chronic condition requiring ongoing management. "It's going to be a lifetime thing. I'm on high blood pressure medication, and if I go off the high blood pressure medication, my blood pressure is going to go up. The same thing is true now, I realize, with these medications," she said.

She concluded that she has proven to herself that she needs the medication. "I have a sense of gratitude that I was able to live in a time where these medications were made available to people to change their lives," Winfrey said.