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Oprah Winfrey says her approach to health has changed so dramatically that even she is surprised by the woman she has become.
The media icon has spoken openly about her decades-long struggle with weight, but in recent years, she says her relationship with her body, food, and exercise has fundamentally shifted. That change, she explains, came after embracing medical treatment alongside sustainable lifestyle habits — not punishment or shame.
"I hardly recognize the woman I've become," Winfrey said in a recent interview with People. "But she's a happy woman."
For much of her career, Oprah's weight was treated as public property — a topic dissected in headlines, television segments, and cultural commentary. While she maintained confidence in her professional life, she admits that privately, the criticism took a toll.
She has previously said she spent years blaming herself for not being able to "conquer" her weight, internalizing the idea that discipline alone should have been enough. Over time, she came to understand obesity as a medical condition rather than a personal failure — a realization that reshaped how she views her health.
That understanding led her to GLP-1 medication, which she has described not as a shortcut, but as a tool that helped quiet constant mental battles around food. "I'm not constantly punishing myself," she explained, noting that the shift brought relief rather than guilt.
Exercise, once something she associated with pressure and correction, has also taken on a new meaning. Movement is now a consistent, planned part of her routine — whether that's hiking, resistance training, or working out while traveling. She says the most shocking part isn't the routine itself, but how natural it now feels.
"I don't recognize the woman who plans trips around where she can work out," she said. "But that's who I am now."
Winfrey also revealed that she once stopped taking the medication for nearly a year to see whether lifestyle changes alone would be enough. Despite maintaining healthy habits, she noticed significant weight gain, which reinforced her belief that long-term treatment may be necessary — much like medication for other chronic conditions.
"It's going to be a lifetime thing," she said, comparing it to managing blood pressure. "I've proven to myself I need it."
Today, Oprah says the biggest lesson she's taken from the journey is releasing shame — both from others and from herself. She hopes her openness helps shift the broader conversation around weight and health.
"I want people to know it's not your fault," she has said. "And people need to stop blaming."
Winfrey says she feels stronger, more energized, and more at peace than she has in years — even if she sometimes has to pause and marvel at just how much has changed.
"I don't recognize her," she said again. "But I like her."
