Oprah Winfrey, 72, appeared at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado on Saturday, showcasing a slimmer figure and discussing her journey with weight loss. She attended the premiere of the documentary "Everest: The Other Side" and participated in a discussion on stage. Winfrey wore a cream-colored jacket and matching trousers with feathery details, paired with a white tank top and brown boots. Her accessories included flashy earrings and stylish shades. IMAGE4
Winfrey has been open about her use of GLP-1 medications to assist with her weight loss. In January, she revealed she had reached a weight of 155 pounds, a reduction of 82 pounds from her heaviest weight. Speaking on "The View" at the time, she attributed her past struggles with weight to an "obesity gene" that she believed caused overeating. "What GLP-1s have done for me and a number of other people is quiet that noise," Winfrey stated, referring to the constant thoughts about food. IMAGE6
She recalled her heaviest weight being 237 pounds in the early 1990s and shared that she initially believed weight management was about discipline and willpower. However, she has since shifted her perspective, stating, "I stopped blaming myself." Winfrey also engages in various workout routines, including treadmill running, hiking, and weight lifting, to maintain her fitness. IMAGE2
During an appearance on "Today" earlier this year, Winfrey shared her experience when she stopped taking GLP-1 medication for a period. She recounted gaining 20 pounds, explaining, "I was off of the medications all last year, and I gained 20 pounds because I wanted to test it." She noted that the "food noise" returned when she ceased taking the medication, even when she maintained a healthy diet. "And then I was taking it, then I got off of it, and then I gained three pounds, and I gained five pounds, and I gained 10 pounds, and before you know it, the [food] noise was back," she said. IMAGE9
Winfrey has previously described GLP-1 medications as a tool for managing weight and preventing yo-yo dieting. In 2023, she told People magazine, "I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing... 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, and not something to hide behind and once again be ridiculed for." She expressed a desire to end the shame associated with weight management. IMAGE10
During a podcast discussion with Dr. Ania Jastreboff, Winfrey elaborated on her understanding of GLP-1 medication's effects. She realized that what she had perceived as willpower in thin individuals was actually an absence of "food noise." "And then I realized the very first time I took the GLP-1 that, they're not even thinking about it. They're eating when they're hungry and they're stopping when they're full," she explained. IMAGE8
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that no single genetic cause has been identified for obesity. Winfrey also crossed paths with her friend Gayle King at the event. IMAGE5
Winfrey interviewed ski mountaineer Jim Morrison on stage during the screening of "Everest: The Other Side," which is scheduled for release in the U.S. on October 30. IMAGE7