As one of the most well-known and influential women on TV, Oprah Winfrey has discussed hundreds of topics on her talk shows over the years, some more taxing than others. But perhaps the number one topic that has been particularly difficult for her to talk about has been about weight loss. Audiences saw the actress’ weight fluctuate up and down during her 25 years of hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show. Her personal struggle to keep the weight off became a very public one and was talked about often on the show.
In 2015, Winfrey joined Weight Watchers and became an official spokesperson for the brand. For the first couple of years, it looked like a match made in heaven, but as CNN recently reported, Winfrey has stepped away from the company’s board divesting her 10% share in the company. The full reason why just might come up during a new ABC TV special airing later this month.
During An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, Winfrey is said to hold a “sit-down conversation” about the impact of the newer prescription weight loss medications on the market. In a recent press release, ABC says that the special will delve into the myriad of questions and concerns about how the use of drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and others are impacting healthcare, lifestyle and culture.
“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,” said Winfrey. “This special will bring together medical experts, leaders in the space and people in the day-to-day struggle to talk about health equity and obesity with the intention to ultimately release the shame, judgment and stigma surrounding weight.”
It’s no secret that America’s “battle of the bulge” has become one of the largest crises in healthcare history. According to ABC, since the 1970s, this battle with obesity has cost our country $173 billion per year in medical costs. But thanks to modern medicine, this dilemma could change for the better. In recent years, newer drugs show promise to become that mythical magic bullet to weight loss freedom. But the recent popularity of these medications has caused a different problem: a shortage of medication that was initially created to help those living with diabetes.
Filmed in front of a live studio audience, Oprah will not only be chatting with some of the country’s leading medical experts, but some “regular” people too who struggle with weight loss. Among those invited to the conversation are Dr. W. Scott Butsch from the Cleveland Clinic, ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Dr. Amanda Velazquez.
“We are thrilled to work with Oprah and the voices she has assembled to open a dialogue that destigmatizes and educates viewers on the important and polarizing topic of weight loss,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group. “I can think of no one better to lead this meaningful conversation about such a critical issue that touches all of our lives.”
Some of questions promised to be addressed during the special include:
- Why is obesity designated a disease?
- Who are the medications really intended for?
- Who is eligible to receive weight loss drugs?
- What should folks ask their doctors?
- What are the short-term and long-term side-effects?
- What are the supply chain challenges and the impact on those with diabetes?
- Why is there shame surrounding taking medication?
- What is the future of these medicines in our society and culture?
An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution airs on March 18 at 8:00 p.m. EDT on ABC. It will also begin streaming on Hulu the next day.
Main image: Wikimedia
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