How Oprah Winfrey Took Control of Her Body—and Her Story

July 13, 2025: Oprah Winfrey is opening up like never before about her lifelong struggle with weight, the shame she’s endured, and the breakthroughs that finally set her free. Once the target of relentless ridicule during her early career, Oprah says she carried that judgment for decades—until she chose to rewrite her own story. “It was public sport to make fun of me for 25 years,” she told PEOPLE, admitting she often blamed herself too. But a 2021 knee surgery changed everything—kickstarting a new chapter of movement, strength, and self-compassion.

The surgery not only helped her walk again without pain but sparked a wellness transformation. Oprah swapped self-blame for 10-mile hikes, gratitude for movement, and a deeper understanding of her body. In 2023, she stepped down from WeightWatchers’ board, revealed she was using a doctor-prescribed GLP-1 medication, and declared she was “done with the shaming—from others and myself.” She now views the medication not as a shortcut, but as a tool in a bigger, holistic lifestyle shift.

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Yet, Oprah Winfrey is quick to say weight loss isn’t magic. Her new approach includes movement, hydration, emotional healing, and still counting points through Weight Watchers. She continues to confront the harsh societal judgments around body image, especially how she was treated in the fashion world and public eye. From Joan Rivers’ on-air scolding to years of stigma in stores, Oprah says she’s finally done internalizing the pain. “I realized I’ve been blaming myself all these years,” she said, “and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control.”

Now in her healthiest and most empowered state, Oprah wants others to embrace body acceptance and reject toxic standards. She’s no longer chasing a number on the scale—but rather, a life of balance, peace, and authenticity. Whether it’s closing a chip bag after 10 crinkle cuts or being carried to the pool by Stedman, she’s embracing joy on her own terms. And this time, she says, the journey is hers to define.