Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 10, 2025 · Entertainment

Oprah Winfrey's Transformation Journey: From Yo-Yo Dieting to Weight Loss Success with GLP-1s

Oprah Winfrey looked almost unrecognisable in her latest social media snap amid her weight loss journey

Oprah's Jaw-Dropping Transformation: From Weighty Woes to Wellness Warrior

The one and only Oprah Winfrey has been making headlines with her stunning weight loss journey, leaving fans and foes alike in awe of her transformation. The 71-year-old media mogul, author, and actress has been on a mission to get fit and healthy for decades, and it seems she's finally achieved her goal.

From Fat to Fabulous: Oprah's Weight Loss Journey

In November 1988 (seen) - two years after launching the Oprah Winfrey Show - the talk show revealed she had lost a whopping 67 pounds in just four months thanks to a 'liquid diet'

It all began when Oprah landed her first big job as a news co-anchor in Baltimore at the ripe age of 22. Feeling anxious and overwhelmed, she turned to food for comfort, confessing that "I used food to numb my negative feelings" during that tumultuous period of her life. Little did she know, this habit would become a lifelong struggle.

As Oprah's career took off, so did her weight. By the late 1980s, she had ballooned up to an alarming 237 pounds. Feeling ashamed and defeated, she embarked on a series of fad diets that promised quick fixes but ultimately left her feeling worse than before. Who can forget the infamous "wheel moment" in 1988 when Oprah proudly displayed a wagon full of 67 pounds of fat she had lost while on the Optifast liquid diet?

The Rise and Fall of Weight Watchers: Oprah's Fateful Partnership

She celebrated the feat by wheeling out a wagon 'full of 67 pounds of fat' onto the stage

Fast-forward to 2015, when Oprah partnered with Weight Watchers (now rebranded as WW) in a deal worth $43 million. While the program initially helped her shed 26 pounds, she later admitted that it was the medication Ozempic that really got her weight loss journey back on track.

In an explosive admission, Oprah revealed that she had been taking GLP-1 medications to manage her weight and quell the "food noise" that had plagued her for so long. It seemed the tide of public opinion turned in her favor as fans rallied around their beloved icon, praising her courage and honesty.

The Fallout: Oprah's Departure from WW and a New Chapter

And while the results were impressive at the time, Oprah (seen in 1986) later admitted that she had 'starved herself' after trying 'every diet known to womankind'

In February 2024, Oprah announced she was stepping down from WW's board due to conflicts of interest. The news sent shockwaves through the company's stock price, plummeting by 20%. But little did anyone know that this move marked the beginning of an even more dramatic chapter in Oprah's life.

Just a month later, Oprah revealed she had quit Weight Watchers altogether, opting instead to focus on promoting prescription weight loss medications like Ozempic. In a candid interview with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she explained her decision was motivated by a desire to avoid any perceived conflicts of interest as she prepared to release a special about the rise of these medications.

The Final Act: Oprah's Newfound Success and Self-Acceptance

She added that the diet messed up her 'metabolism' and that 'two weeks after she returned to real food,' she gained 10 pounds back. She's seen in early 1989

As Oprah celebrated reaching her goal weight of 160 pounds, fans and critics alike couldn't help but wonder what lay behind her remarkable transformation. In an exclusive interview with Dr. Ania Jastreboff on her podcast, Oprah opened up about the groundbreaking GLP-1 medications that had changed her life.

"I realized that thin people don't have more willpower; they're just not thinking about food all the time," Oprah confessed. "They eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full." This profound insight sparked a newfound sense of self-acceptance, as Oprah acknowledged that obesity is a disease that requires medical attention, not simply dieting or exercise.

The Grand Finale: A Glittering Wedding Guest and Book Club Star

In a separate post on her site, Oprah explained that her weight problems began years prior, when she landed her first 'big job' as a news co-anchor in Baltimore at age 22 (seen)

Just weeks ago, Oprah dazzled onlookers at Jeff Bezos' Venetian wedding, flaunting her incredible results in a fitted dusty pink gown. And now, she's back with another stunning post to promote her book club, solidifying her status as a wellness icon.

So what can we learn from Oprah's remarkable journey? For one, it's clear that weight loss is not always about willpower or self-control; sometimes, it requires medical intervention and support. Secondly, it's never too late to make positive changes in our lives – no matter how old we get!

As we gaze upon Oprah's radiant smile and svelte physique, we're reminded that true beauty comes from within. And for this beloved media mogul, inner peace has finally found its way back into her life.

'I discovered that food - especially corn dogs and chocolate chip cookies with macadamia nuts - could provide a great deal of solace,' Oprah (seen in 1978) said. 'I ate my emotions'

Sources:

Oprah (seen in 1986) said that she 'thought she was fine' and 'just had a little weight problem' at the time. But she later realised she had much deeper issues 'that she was burying by eating'

By 1990, Oprah had gained all the weight back and then some - and she said she was ready to say goodbye to dieting for good. She is pictured in 1990

During an interview with People magazine, the star said she believed the reason her diet had 'failed' was because 'they don't work.' She's seen in 1992

When Oprah started to suffer from unexplained heart palpitations in the early 2000s, it made her want to strive to be even healthier. She's seen in 2002

By 2005, Oprah (seen in 2006) was down to 160 pounds. 'I thought I was finished with the weight battle. I'd conquered it. I was so sure, I was even cocky,' she said

But in 2008, she fell off track after suffering from a series of health woes, and she was soon back-up to 200 pounds. She is seen in 2006

At the time, she said her heart palpitations had gotten worse - which resulted in her struggling to sleep through the night and developing a 'fear of working out.' She's seen in 2009

After seeing a series of doctors, Oprah (seen in 2009) was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition that makes your thyroid overactive, and that made her spiral even worse

'I felt completely defeated,' she recalled. 'I thought,

At the time, however, the host (seen in 2011) said she was determined to get back on track. She said she was off the medication and was back to exercising 'at least one hour six days a week'

In late 2015, news hit the web that Oprah had bought a 10 per cent stake in the company Weight Watchers for $43 million - and she soon became the face of the brand

By early 2016, the star (seen in June 2016) revealed she had lost 26 pounds since joining forces with the company. And by December 2016, her weight loss was up to 40 pounds

In an interview with WW in 2017, the media mogul explained that her weight loss felt different this time because she had changed her 'intentions.' She's seen in 2016

'I could lose weight to fit a dress size or to make other people like me. But this time I changed the intention to,

In January 2022, Oprah revealed she had kicked off her year with a diet 'reset' after 'eating every day like food had just been invented' over the holidays

Oprah's dramatic transformation became the subject of intense public and media speculation when she walked the red carpet at the premiere of The Colour Purple in 2023

A longtime spokesperson for Weight Watchers, people were skeptical immediately that the star had shed those pounds by tracking points alone and wondered whether Oprah was using weight loss jabs like Ozempic that have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years

Oprah said taking weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy, helped her realize the truth about 'thin people'; seen in December 2024

Despite her initial denial about using weight-loss drugs, Oprah declared she was 'done with the shaming' in December 2023 when she revealed that she used a GLP-1 to drop 40lbs; seen in January 2024

The talk show veteran said she has finally come to terms with the fact that she had spent much of her life painting her failure to keep weight off as a personal flaw rather than the medical issue that it is

In January 2025, Oprah revealed she had reached her goal weight of 160 pounds (72 kilos) and shared her experience of taking a GLP-1 and what it has taught her about 'thin people'

Oprah Winfrey showed off her slimmed-down figure as she enjoyed a pre-wedding workout with Gayle King in Venice on Friday morning

The former talk show host, was a vision in a fitted dusty pink gown, which featured her cinched waist  following her 50 pound weight loss

Structural draping helped accentuate Winfrey's hour glass shape, while the frothy chiffon sleeves and skirt added a soft touch to the designer frock