How Did Oprah Lose Weight? Inside the TV Icon's Health Journey
Oprah Winfrey's weight loss transformation made headlines in recent years, but shedding some pounds wasn't just about her appearance; it was about redefining wellness on her own terms.
From the intense public scrutiny she faced to her surprising revelations about her weight loss journey, the media mogul has remained open about her evolving story.
Oprah Winfrey's Weight Loss Journey
During the pandemic period and its aftermath, the award-winning host experienced health issues involving her knee.
She revealed in 2022 that she had undergone double knee surgery in 2021, the first in August, followed by another in November.
"When I came home the first time, I literally could not lift my leg," she mentioned in her digital magazine, Oprah Daily, adding "I couldn't lift my heel off of the bed, and I vowed if I was ever able to get up, walk around, and move again - that I would take advantage of movement, exercise, and of being able to be fully in my body."
Despite the setback, this sparked her journey toward better health.
"There is a sense of knowing that there isn't as much time left and I am at peace with that knowing," she revealed during her guest appearance on Al Roker's 70th birthday on Today. "There's a sense of urgency for me about living well."
At the time, she felt a renewed sense of freedom and comfort in her body after years of being overweight, which had limited her physically and contributed to her knee issues.
In 2023, the public saw a subtle change in Oprah's appearance and she later opened up about using medication as part of her holistic wellness routine.
"The fact that there's a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift," she told People in an exclusive interview.
At the time, she opted not to name the specific drug but mentioned that it served as a "maintenance tool" to help manage her weight.
However, her revelation sparked unexpected backlash after not disclosing the specific type of medication she used. The public widely believed it was a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy.
In December 2025, the 20-time Daytime Emmy winner opened up about her GLP-1 weight loss medication, which she had taken but briefly stopped in early 2024 to "beat the medication" but resumed after gaining 20 pounds in one year, as cited by People.
According to her, she no longer sees weight loss as a short-term goal but as an ongoing lifelong process, as mentioned in her new book with obesity expert Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight and What It's Like to Be Free. "I feel more alive and more vibrant than I've ever been."
Related: 72-Year-Old Oprah's Latest Public Appearance Sparks Concern
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This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM.