Oprah Winfrey steps down from Weight Watchers board to promote weight loss drugs

Oprah Winfrey has resigned from the board of directors of Weight Watchers, where she has served for nearly a decade, to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest as she promotes weight loss drugs.

Winfrey, who has been open about her struggles with weight loss, recently revealed that she has been taking the weight loss drug Ozempic. The drug, which is injected once a week, helps regulate blood sugar levels and has been shown to be effective in helping people lose weight.

Winfrey’s decision to step down from the Weight Watchers board comes as the company is increasingly focused on providing weight loss medication to its customers. In 2023, Weight Watchers acquired Sequence, a telehealth company that provides access to doctors who can prescribe weight loss drugs.

In a statement, Winfrey said that she wanted to be able to “talk about whatever I want to talk about” when it comes to weight loss, and that she felt that her position on the Weight Watchers board could be seen as a conflict of interest.

“I decided to leave the Weight Watchers board because this special was really important to me and I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I want to talk about,” Winfrey said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday. “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.”

Winfrey’s decision to step down from the Weight Watchers board has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised her for her transparency and honesty, while others have questioned her motives.

Some critics have also pointed to Winfrey’s past associations with figures like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, who have been criticized for promoting questionable health products.

Dr. Phil, for example, has been sued multiple times by former guests who allege that he exploited them for ratings. Dr. Oz has been criticized for promoting products that lack scientific backing.

Despite the criticism, Winfrey remains one of the most influential people in the world. Her endorsement of Ozempic could have a significant impact on the weight loss industry.

It remains to be seen whether Winfrey’s new weight loss special will be a success. However, there is no doubt that she is a powerful force in the world of health and wellness.

Only time will tell what the long-term impact of Winfrey’s decision to step down from the Weight Watchers board will be. However, one thing is for sure: she is not afraid to speak her mind, even if it means ruffling a few feathers.