Oprah discusses social media ban, Hugh Jackman and weight loss drugs
The 71-year-old former talk show host is heading to Australia with Lilly for the first time in 10 years, then sending her to Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne to inspire audiences by talking about the “power of originality” and the “need for flexibility”. Oprah in her Speech: Presented by Lilly‘s introductory article.
On Monday, Australia’s medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), issued a safety warning about the risk of suicidal ideation and reduced effectiveness of oral contraception linked to GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy and more.
Winfrey made no mention of such a drug on stage Thursday. The closest thing Winfrey had to a direct acknowledgment of GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs she confirmed using in 2023 was a clip from an earlier television appearance.
“I never thought we’d be talking about drugs that bring hope to people like me who have struggled with overweight or obesity for years,” Winfrey said in the pre-recorded video released in a package played before she took the stage.
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Winfrey opened up about her weight-loss journey 52 minutes into the mammoth one-hour and 40-minute session, mentioning her use of GLP-1 receptor agonists with the umbrella term “treatment.”
Winfrey, who made a promise to God while recovering from double knee surgery in 2021, says she hikes every day while in Sydney, including Wattamolla in the Royal National Park and Mount Kosciuszko in the Snowy Mountains.
Winfrey said another game changer in her weight loss journey was discovering that obesity was a disease; It’s a story reflected in countless copies of the free book. let’s talk Lilly magazine was placed in the lobby of the auditorium for attendees to pick up.
Winfrey gave generously of her time Thursday night, speaking for so long that moderator Melissa Doyle was unable to ask audience questions because time ran out.Credit: Getty Images
“All the shame and blame I brought on myself all these years were unfounded because obesity is a disease,” Winfrey said on stage.
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“When I discovered it was a disease, I called my doctor and started treatment. It’s not one answer. It’s a combination of all the things I do. That’s why I work out. I plank, I do resistance training, I walk, and I’m also eating a lot less. And thanks to the treatment, all of my eating noises have stopped.”
GLP-1 receptor agonists were not explicitly mentioned by Winfrey. let’s talk The ad magazine is a reflection of Australian rules banning the advertising of prescription-only drugs to the public. TGA’s policy is to prevent self-diagnosis based on incomplete or misleading information and to ensure that treatment decisions are made in conjunction with a healthcare professional.
Lilly billed the event as a “rare opportunity” to hear Winfrey’s thoughts “that will resonate with anyone looking for purpose, inspiration or spark to reimagine their own path,” and it delivered. But attendees may have been both confused and inspired by Thursday night’s failure to directly address the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
