Oprah Winfrey Opens Up About a Surprising GLP-1 Side Effect

Oprah Winfrey’s weight-loss journey with GLP-1 medications has made headlines before. In 2023, she joined a wave of celebrities using the drugs for weight management. At the time, the announcement was met with pushback, but a recent revelation about her relationship with alcohol is being received far more positively.

In an exclusive interview with People, Winfrey revealed that the medication is not only curbing her appetite, but also her desire for alcohol. “I was a big fan of tequila,” she says, noting that at one point she could outdrink everyone at the table and once indulged in 17 shots in a single night. Her outlook is different now, however, thanks to GLP-1 medication. “I haven’t had a drink in years. The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing,” she said.

Over the years, Winfrey has been candid about her struggles with weight loss and gain—an openness that has resonated deeply with many. Sharing her current experience with GLP-1 medications in her new book, co-written with obesity expert Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, continues that long-standing commitment to transparency.

During the interview, Winfrey shared intimate details, including how often she takes her injections, the side effects she experiences and how she manages them with a healthy diet and vitamins. She also revealed that after stopping the injections following a year of use, she realized that taking a GLP-1 needed to be a long-term commitment.

For Winfrey, the medication has become “a tool to help you manage the messages that are being sent to your brain about overeating.” It has also served as a catalyst for broader lifestyle changes, including cutting back on alcohol and committing to a regular exercise routine. “I thought it was about discipline and willpower. But I stopped blaming myself, (and) I feel more alive and more vibrant than I’ve ever been,” she says.

Winfrey’s weight has been the subject of tabloid scrutiny for much of her career. Now, the talk show icon and media mogul says she’s reclaiming the narrative. “Whatever was happening needed to happen to get me to this point. And I rejoice at feeling liberated from the struggle—because I had a real public struggle. And I am healthier now.”