celeb news Oprah exits WeightWatchers, conflict of interest around her taking weight loss meds

[Seahorse]

Oprah Winfrey Exits WeightWatchers Board, Donates Stock; Company Says Moves Aim To Counter “Perceived Conflict Of Interest Around Her Taking Weight Loss Medications”

 

Oprah Winfrey is leaving the board of directors of WeightWatchers after a 9-year run and donating her stock in the company in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest over her use of weight-loss medication.

 

Shares in the company fell almost 20% on the news.

 

In addition to not standing for re-election in May when the company holds board elections, Winfrey said she plans to donate all of her stock in WW to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As of Jan. 1, she owned 1.13 million shares worth $6.34 million, according to data from LSEG.

 

The company said Winfrey is giving to the museum in order to support its goal to “promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans and to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications.” She will also donate the proceeds from any future exercises of her WW stock options to NMAAHC.

 

“I look forward to continuing to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma, and advocating for health equity,” Winfrey said. “Weight health is a critically important topic and one that needs to be addressed at a broader scale. I plan to participate in a number of public forums and events where I will be a vocal advocate in advancing this conversation.”

 

A dramatically effective new class of weight-loss drugs like the injectable Ozempic has gained widespread popularity in recent years, especially in the entertainment business.

 

https://deadline.com/2024/02/oprah-winfrey-exits-weightwatchers-board-weight-loss-drugs-1235841950/

[Burn]

 

[blaggot]

not oprah being an ozempic doll too  

 

madness 

[Laura Palmer]

C’mon skinny legend 

[bjorn]

FRAUD

[FameFatale]

Which is crazy because WW partnered with Ozempic last year 

[Cameltoe Chariot]

I love how so many people act like taking a medication to help with something that contributes to a myriad of health issues is "cheating".

 

We take pills and injections for depression, for ADHD, for pain, for acid reflux, for gender dysphoria... but for some reason weight loss is a moral issue and other overweight/obese people feel compelled to discredit the health decisions of total strangers. Everyone is different, everyone is in charge of their own bodies, and everyone should be allowed to access the health care they want and need.

 

We have people calling Oprah's use of ozempic problematic while completely overlooking the predatory aspect of companies like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig etc that have been preying on insecure and vulnerable people for DECADES. Make it make sense - but that might be asking too much on ATRL!!! 

[Ryan]

Weight watchers literally started advertising that they offer Ozempic so where is the conflict?

 

Anyways, whatever. 

7 minutes ago, Cameltoe Chariot said:

I love how so many people act like taking a medication to help with something that contributes to a myriad of health issues is "cheating".

 

We take pills and injections for depression, for ADHD, for pain, for acid reflux, for gender dysphoria... but for some reason weight loss is a moral issue and other overweight/obese people feel compelled to discredit the health decisions of total strangers. Everyone is different, everyone is in charge of their own bodies, and everyone should be allowed to access the health care they want and need.

 

We have people calling Oprah's use of ozempic problematic while completely overlooking the predatory aspect of companies like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig etc that have been preying on insecure and vulnerable people for DECADES. Make it make sense - but that might be asking too much on ATRL!!! 

Exactly

[Sombre]

Medication is always a win for any chronic disease or issue. At the same time, I can't but worry about the side effects of Ozempic. I wonder if we'll see a rise in thyroid cancer cases because of it and other similar meds.

[shoganai]

Oprah involved in conflict of interest? Shocking and unexpected from her lol

[RideOrDie]

39 minutes ago, Cameltoe Chariot said:

I love how so many people act like taking a medication to help with something that contributes to a myriad of health issues is "cheating".

 

We take pills and injections for depression, for ADHD, for pain, for acid reflux, for gender dysphoria... but for some reason weight loss is a moral issue and other overweight/obese people feel compelled to discredit the health decisions of total strangers. Everyone is different, everyone is in charge of their own bodies, and everyone should be allowed to access the health care they want and need.

 

We have people calling Oprah's use of ozempic problematic while completely overlooking the predatory aspect of companies like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig etc that have been preying on insecure and vulnerable people for DECADES. Make it make sense - but that might be asking too much on ATRL!!! 

wow 

[Dolce Vita]

not oprah being an ozempic girlie 

[50thStateofMind]

idk how celebs arenʻt terrified of ozempic...

[Miss Show Business]

4 hours ago, Cameltoe Chariot said:

I love how so many people act like taking a medication to help with something that contributes to a myriad of health issues is "cheating".

 

We take pills and injections for depression, for ADHD, for pain, for acid reflux, for gender dysphoria... but for some reason weight loss is a moral issue and other overweight/obese people feel compelled to discredit the health decisions of total strangers. Everyone is different, everyone is in charge of their own bodies, and everyone should be allowed to access the health care they want and need.

 

We have people calling Oprah's use of ozempic problematic while completely overlooking the predatory aspect of companies like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig etc that have been preying on insecure and vulnerable people for DECADES. Make it make sense - but that might be asking too much on ATRL!!! 

I overall agree, however I think with Oprah, it comes across badly, because she is literally a billionaire. She has every tool at her expense to lose weight - an in home gym, dietician, probably a personal trainer, etc. She can and has lost weight without needing Ozempic. She's likely contributing to the problem of medication shortages and using this drug when she really doesn't need to be using it. Although, I will concede I don't know her health situation - all I do know is that she has lost weight before without medications, and these newer drugs are best for people with chronic obesity and/or diabetes.

[torontowest91]

really Ozempic.???


I thought she loved WW bread

[Cameltoe Chariot]

8 minutes ago, Miss Show Business said:

I overall agree, however I think with Oprah, it comes across badly, because she is literally a billionaire. She has every tool at her expense to lose weight - an in home gym, dietician, probably a personal trainer, etc. She can and has lost weight without needing Ozempic. She's likely contributing to the problem of medication shortages and using this drug when she really doesn't need to be using it. Although, I will concede I don't know her health situation - all I do know is that she has lost weight before without medications, and these newer drugs are best for people with chronic obesity and/or diabetes.

You say that you agree with me, but then immediately pass judgement on Oprah and list reasons why she should lose weight the way you think is the "correct way". Any shortages, or cost barriers with ozempic are specifically an American problem, too - my 56 year old middle class aunt is taking it right now for weight loss through her family doctor here in Canada.

 

Anything anyone does to their own body is no one else's business. Period. I don't know why this is so hard for people to understand.

 

If you applied this same logic to a trans person you'd likely immediately call it transphobic... like imagine I was on here blaming trans women for shortages of estrogen, and arguing that they should just be happy with the body they have and seek out natural ways to enhance it. Unfortunately with all the good things that come with the body positivity movement there are downsides too, and this morality code for weight loss methods sucks.

[Jack!]

4 hours ago, Cameltoe Chariot said:

I love how so many people act like taking a medication to help with something that contributes to a myriad of health issues is "cheating".

 

We take pills and injections for depression, for ADHD, for pain, for acid reflux, for gender dysphoria... but for some reason weight loss is a moral issue and other overweight/obese people feel compelled to discredit the health decisions of total strangers. Everyone is different, everyone is in charge of their own bodies, and everyone should be allowed to access the health care they want and need.

 

We have people calling Oprah's use of ozempic problematic while completely overlooking the predatory aspect of companies like WeightWatchers, Jenny Craig etc that have been preying on insecure and vulnerable people for DECADES. Make it make sense - but that might be asking too much on ATRL!!! 

I see what you're getting at here, but truthfully it isn't as cut and dry as this. The medical science that has gone into creating a myriad of medications to help with some of the diseases and ailments you've listed such as ADHD, chronic pain, arthritis, gender dysphoria, anxiety and depression were trialled because the medical advice of "try and be happier if you're depressed" or "try and be more masculine if you think you're a trans woman" etc are quite literally not medical briefs. Looking at weight loss from a newer perspective, as in with someone who doesn't have medical history to compartmentalise why such a thing would be happening, the medical advice is to better your diet and exercise, because that is the best way to achieve weight loss and weight related health.

 

We are opening a different kettle of fish looking at people with other ailments such a type 2 diabetes, but semaglutide and liraglutide injections (at least in the UK) are only given at last resort situations when patients have lost complete control of their diabetes. Most type 2 diabetics with bad control of their disease will be in touch with a dietitian looking to naturally help them lose weight and gain control of their diabetes, blood sugars, weight and all things related.

 

I agree no one should be judged for taking these injections, but it is important to remember that looking at these injections in particular, they weren't created for mass consumption at the hand of general consumers. And the wrong people are using them, and paying a lot of money out of pocket to have them, causing shortages for people who do need them. Semaglutide was out of stock for the NHS for a while there a few months back. Yet Boots (a high street private pharmacist in the UK) was selling them privately for £200 a piece.

[squishy]

I thought back in December WW announced an Ozempic program though

[harwee]

WW vs ozempic. Its giving streaming vs theatrical.