Oprah Winfrey.Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via GettyOprah Winfreyis parting ways with WeightWatchers after nearly a decade on the company’s board of directors.The media mogul, 70 — whojoined WeightWatchersin August 2015 and acquired a 10% stake in the company — announced that she won’t stand for re-election at its annual shareholder meeting in May.Although Winfrey didn’t issue a public statement, a WeightWatchers regulatory statement said that her “decision was not the result of any disagreement” or “any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”“Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape WeightWatchers over these last 8 years,” Thilo Semmelbauer, Chairman of the Board, said in astatement. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank her for her energy, dedication, and for continuing to play a role as collaborator and thought partner going forward. What I know for sure, we will dearly miss her presence on the Board.”Winfrey said she will donate all her shares in the company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, saying she has “been a long-time supporter of this worthy organization, and I am proud to continue my support.” WeightWatchers’ board of directors said it supports Winfrey’s decision.WeightWatchers.“Ms. Winfrey is making the donation to support the NMAAHC’s goal to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans and to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications,” the company 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,” Winfrey added.“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,” she said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Oprah Winfrey.Eric Charbonneau/GettyThe decision comes shortly after Winfrey revealed that she has been using a weight-loss medication after years of struggling with her health.“I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control,” she told PEOPLE in December. “Obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower — it’s about the brain.“Once she reconciled the science, Winfrey said she “released my own shame about it” and consulted her doctor, who went on to prescribe a weight-loss medication. “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she said, opting not to name the specific drug she takes.“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 said at the time. “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.“Winfrey is aware of the buzz around her body size, especially as the use of medications likeOzempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss has surged in popularity. But she stressed it has not been a magic bullet or singular solution.“It’s everything,” she said of her all-encompassing health and fitness routine. “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”
Oprah Winfrey.Photo: Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Oprah Winfreyis parting ways with WeightWatchers after nearly a decade on the company’s board of directors.The media mogul, 70 — whojoined WeightWatchersin August 2015 and acquired a 10% stake in the company — announced that she won’t stand for re-election at its annual shareholder meeting in May.Although Winfrey didn’t issue a public statement, a WeightWatchers regulatory statement said that her “decision was not the result of any disagreement” or “any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”“Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape WeightWatchers over these last 8 years,” Thilo Semmelbauer, Chairman of the Board, said in astatement. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank her for her energy, dedication, and for continuing to play a role as collaborator and thought partner going forward. What I know for sure, we will dearly miss her presence on the Board.”Winfrey said she will donate all her shares in the company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, saying she has “been a long-time supporter of this worthy organization, and I am proud to continue my support.” WeightWatchers’ board of directors said it supports Winfrey’s decision.WeightWatchers.“Ms. Winfrey is making the donation to support the NMAAHC’s goal to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans and to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications,” the company 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,” Winfrey added.“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,” she said.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Oprah Winfrey.Eric Charbonneau/GettyThe decision comes shortly after Winfrey revealed that she has been using a weight-loss medication after years of struggling with her health.“I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control,” she told PEOPLE in December. “Obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower — it’s about the brain.“Once she reconciled the science, Winfrey said she “released my own shame about it” and consulted her doctor, who went on to prescribe a weight-loss medication. “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she said, opting not to name the specific drug she takes.“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 said at the time. “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.“Winfrey is aware of the buzz around her body size, especially as the use of medications likeOzempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss has surged in popularity. But she stressed it has not been a magic bullet or singular solution.“It’s everything,” she said of her all-encompassing health and fitness routine. “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”
Oprah Winfreyis parting ways with WeightWatchers after nearly a decade on the company’s board of directors.
The media mogul, 70 — whojoined WeightWatchersin August 2015 and acquired a 10% stake in the company — announced that she won’t stand for re-election at its annual shareholder meeting in May.
Although Winfrey didn’t issue a public statement, a WeightWatchers regulatory statement said that her “decision was not the result of any disagreement” or “any matter relating to the company’s operations, policies or practices.”
“Oprah has been an inspiring presence and passionate advocate for our members, providing critical insights and counsel that has helped shape WeightWatchers over these last 8 years,” Thilo Semmelbauer, Chairman of the Board, said in astatement. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank her for her energy, dedication, and for continuing to play a role as collaborator and thought partner going forward. What I know for sure, we will dearly miss her presence on the Board.”
Winfrey said she will donate all her shares in the company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, saying she has “been a long-time supporter of this worthy organization, and I am proud to continue my support.” WeightWatchers’ board of directors said it supports Winfrey’s decision.
WeightWatchers.
“Ms. Winfrey is making the donation to support the NMAAHC’s goal to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans and to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications,” the company 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,” Winfrey added.
“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,” she said.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Oprah Winfrey.Eric Charbonneau/Getty
Eric Charbonneau/Getty
The decision comes shortly after Winfrey revealed that she has been using a weight-loss medication after years of struggling with her health.
“I realized I’d been blaming myself all these years for being overweight, and I have a predisposition that no amount of willpower is going to control,” she told PEOPLE in December. “Obesity is a disease. It’s not about willpower — it’s about the brain.”
Once she reconciled the science, Winfrey said she “released my own shame about it” and consulted her doctor, who went on to prescribe a weight-loss medication. “I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing,” she said, opting not to name the specific drug she takes.
“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 said at the time. “I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself.”
Winfrey is aware of the buzz around her body size, especially as the use of medications likeOzempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro for weight loss has surged in popularity. But she stressed it has not been a magic bullet or singular solution.
“It’s everything,” she said of her all-encompassing health and fitness routine. “I know everybody thought I was on it, but I worked so damn hard. I know that if I’m not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn’t work for me.”
source: people.com
