Oprah Winfrey’s public, decade-long journey to lose (and gain) weight has been televised and followed closely by fans and media alike. In 2015 it even became the majority shareholder of WeightWatcher.
But now, on Wednesday, it was announced that the 70-year-old self-made billionaire will be leaving the weight loss program’s board of directors after nearly a decade.
The decision comes a few months after sharing with Winfrey People magazine that she was using a weight-loss drug to help her maintain weight in addition to regular exercise and lifestyle changes.
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“The fact that there is a medically approved prescription for weight management and health in my lifetime makes me feel like a relief, like redemption, like a gift, and not something to hide behind and to be ridiculed for again,” Winfrey said of her decision. to start taking medications. “I am absolutely done shaming other people and particularly myself.”
In Wednesday’s announcement, Winfrey said she would donate all of her future earnings from her shares in WeightWatchers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, something WeightWatchers said was done to eliminate “any perceived conflicts of interest regarding her weight loss”. drugs.”
“Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and advice that have helped shape WeightWatchers over the past 8 years,” said Thilo Semmelbauer, chair of the WeightWatchers board of directors, in a company release . “What I know for sure is that we will greatly miss her presence on the Council.”
In December, WeightWatchers announced the launch of the WeightWatchers Clinic, a virtual medical clinic available to customers for an additional $99 per month that gives weight-loss hopefuls access to telemedicine doctors who can help prescribe weight-loss medications like recently popular Wegovy.
The launch followed the company’s March 2023 acquisition of telemedicine company Sequence.
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“We’re trying to lead the conversation around obesity and get people to think not just about lifestyle interventions, but also about clinical solutions like medications,” said Sima Sistani, CEO of WeightWatchers. TIME.
WeightWatchers plunged nearly 24% in a 24-hour period on news of Winfrey’s departure.