Oprah Winfrey Says People 'Almost' Cried Upon Her Exit From WeightWatchers

Oprah Winfrey revealed she left Weight Watchers to avoid conflicts of interest with her upcoming ABC special on prescription weight loss drugs.

During her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, she discussed how emotional her exit was and stated that some people in the organization were almost moved to tears.

During an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," Oprah Winfrey revealed that she left WeightWatchers after serving on the company's board for nine years to avoid a "conflict of interest" in her upcoming special on prescription weight loss drugs.

The 70-year-old TV icon emphasized the importance of discussing various topics freely, stating: "I decided that because this special was really important to me and I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I wanted to talk about, and Weight Watchers is now in the business of being a weight health company that also administers drug medications for weight. I did not want to have the appearance of any conflict of interest."

She continued, per Daily Mail: "So I resigned from the board and donated all of my shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. So nobody can say, 'Oh, she's doing that special, she's making money, promoting.' No, you cannot say that."

During the conversation, Oprah was asked if the people at Weight Watchers cried when she left the organization.

Winfrey hinted at the emotional responses to her exit, stating, "They almost did."

During her appearance on the talk show, Winfrey discussed her upcoming ABC program, "An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame, and the Weight Loss Revolution," scheduled to air soon.

When asked about her inspiration for hosting a primetime special on network television, the billionaire recounted her personal journey with knee surgery in 2021.

She described the transformative experience, sharing: "I have had the experience of a lifetime. Because back in 2021, I had my knees done. Anybody here ever had their knees done? So for four years, I was in pain every time I walked down a hill, I was getting those injections in the knees, steroid injections."

She added, "But as you know, if you continue to get them, it actually gets worse. You don't improve, you get worse. So, I decided to have my knees done. And let me tell you, life changed!"

The 70-year-old then talked of her relationship with God and how she vowed that if he gave her a chance to walk, she would use her body for the "highest possible good."

Winfrey continued, "Life changed after that. And when you first came home, I could not lift my leg off the bed. I couldn't move my foot. And I made a vow that if God if you let me walk again, I promise I will get myself in shape. I promise I will use my body to the highest possible good for myself and my health. And that's how it all started."

From initially struggling to move her legs after surgery to gradually increasing her mobility through daily perseverance, Winfrey gushed about her determination to regain her strength and vitality.

"The first time I did a mile, it took me almost two hours to finish a mile. And every day, I would try to do a little more, a little more. And I was not eating past 4 o'clock and watching all the right meals," the former talk show host stated.

She added, "I felt like I had to do it my way and had to prove that I could do it on my own. Even though I was hearing all along people talking about the medications. I felt like, I've gotta do it."

Reflecting on her journey, Winfrey shared insights she gained from conversations with doctors, recognizing "obesity as a disease" influenced by genetic factors.

She explained: "Obesity is a disease. It is not a disease for everybody who's overweight. It is a disease if you carry the gene or the propensity for the adipose gene, which is the fat gene. So, not everybody who drinks is an alcoholic, but if you have the gene for it, you develop alcoholism. It is the same thing with people who have obesity. Not everybody who eats a lot and shows up with extra weight has that gene or carries that propensity."

The "The Color Purple" producer candidly admitted her struggles with weight fluctuations, adding: "I've been in the struggle. I've been in the storm of losing the weight, gaining it back. Losing the weight, gaining it back. And what I realized when I listened to what the doctor said is that you are always going to put it back on, and it's like holding your breath underwater and trying not to rise. You're always going to rise."

Despite initially denying the use of weight-loss medication, Winfrey disclosed her decision to utilize it for her transformation, emphasizing her desire to end the stigma surrounding weight-loss methods.

She openly discussed her experience with the medication, highlighting its impact on her Thanksgiving eating habits and its role in "quieting the food noise."

Ahead of the premiere of her documentary "An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution" on ABC, Winfrey shared her connection to the topic in a press statement quoted by BET.

She said: “It is a very personal topic for me and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity.”

The documentary will feature interviews with individuals who have utilized popular weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, alongside insights from experts in the field.

Reflecting on her journey, the talk show legend has been open about her weight loss endeavors throughout her career, offering transparency and inspiration to her audience.