Oprah, 70, vehemently DEFENDS her Ozempic use as she speaks out to slam those who 'shame' others for turning to weight loss drugs to combat the 'disease' of obesity - days after she quit Weight Watchers over potential 'conflict of interest'

Oprah has spoken out to vehemently defend her Ozempic use in a new documentary that will air just days after she stepped away from her role as a Weight Watchers ambassador amid controversy over her decision to turn to a weight loss drug to slim down. 

The 70-year-old TV icon has proudly been flaunting a much trimmer waistline in recent months, having shed more than 40lbs with the help of the weight loss drug, which she will now plug to the world in the upcoming TV doc, An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution. 

While Oprah's special is set to air in full tonight, a preview clip aired by Good Morning America today gave a sneak peek at what viewers can expect - showing the TV mogul, who quit her Weight Watchers board role after nine years over a potential conflict of interest, hitting out at those who 'shame' others for using drugs to trim down. 

The TV personality praised the weight loss drug, while boldly stating that she is 'absolutely done' with dealing with 'shaming from other people' - adding that she wants viewers to take away positive thoughts from the documentary. 

Oprah has defended her Ozempic use in a new documentary - just days after she stepped down from her role as a Weight Watchers ambassador after she admitted she took the drug

The 70-year-old (seen December 2023) is set to plug the weight loss drug in an upcoming special, An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, which airs tonight

Just days after she revealed she left Weight Watchers due to a conflict of interest after being on the board since 2015, Oprah ( seen in 2014) has again defended Ozempic in a teaser clip

Oprah - who has credited her dramatic transformation to the drug - said: 'The number one thing I hope people come away with is knowing that [obesity] is a disease, and it's in the brain.' 

The special also features obesity medicine physician Dr. Jen Ashton, who was shown having a discussion with Oprah during the teaser. 

Dr. Jen explained: 'It is conclusively known that the conditions of overweight and obesity are complex, chronic disease states, not character flaws... so they should be managed accordingly. ' 

Oprah replied: 'Oh, I love that so much, Dr. Jen," Winfrey said. "It's a disease, not a character flaw.' 

Just three days ago, the TV mogul shared why she was stepping down from Weight Watchers, opening up about her reasons for quitting during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. 

She explained: 'I decided that because this special was really important to me and I wanted to be able to talk about whatever I wanted to talk about, and Weight Watchers is now in the business of being a weight health company that also administers drug medications for weight. 

'I did not want to have the appearance of any conflict of interest,' said Oprah, who announced last month that she was not going to stand for re-election at the next Weight Watchers shareholder meeting in May.

'So I resigned from the board and donated all of my shares to the National Museum of African American History and Culture,' Oprah added.

'So nobody can say, ''Oh, she's doing that special, she's making money, promoting''. No, you cannot say that,' she said.

Oprah - who has credited her dramatic transformation to the drug - said: 'The number one thing I hope people come away with is knowing that [obesity] is a disease, and it's in the brain'

Just three days ago, the TV mogul shared why she was stepping down from Weight Watchers. During an appearance of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Oprah (seen in 2024) revealed why she left

In December, the TV mogul confessed to using the drug as a 'tool' to stop her yo-yoing weight issues (seen in 2023)

'Did people at Weight Watchers cry when you left?,' Jimmy asked. 'They almost did,' Oprah replied.

'Yeah, I would imagine they wouldn't be that happy about it,' Jimmy said. 'They almost did,' Oprah said.

Oprah was on the talk show to promote the upcoming ABC program An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, which is set to air at 8 p.m. EDT/7 p.m. CDT.

In December, the TV mogul confessed to using the drug as a 'tool' to stop her yo-yoing weight issues. 

At the time, she told People: 'I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing' - but did not name the drug that she uses.

'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.

'I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself' and added she had actively recommended the weight loss aid to other people before deciding to take it herself.'

Throughout her decades-long weight-loss journey, Oprah has never shied away from discussing her problems in public. Pictured in 1988 (left) and 1992 (right) 

Last year she was dogged by rumors she was on Ozempic, the diabetes medicine that has become a Hollywood fad among those attempting to slim down

As the speculation mounted, Oprah finally confessed that she had relented and started taking weight loss medication - after previously feeling that she had to rely on her own 'willpower' to achieve the figure she wanted (seen in 1990)

Over the decades of her superstardom, Oprah has been candid with her fans about the various steps she has taken to lose weight.

Last year she was dogged by rumors she was on Ozempic, the diabetes medicine that has become a Hollywood fad among those attempting to slim down.

As the speculation mounted, Oprah finally confessed that she had relented and started taking weight loss medication - after previously feeling that she had to rely on her own 'willpower' to achieve the figure she wanted.

'It is a very personal topic for me,' said Oprah in a press statement quoted by BET:  'and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity.'

When she underwent knee surgery in 2021, her physical rehabilitation helped her develop a number of healthy habits that helped her burn fat.

When she underwent knee surgery in 2021, her physical rehabilitation helped her develop a number of healthy habits that helped her burn fat (seen in 2018)

In the documentary, Oprah (seen in 2024) will also interview people who have used popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as professionals with experience in the field

Oprah weighed 237lbs (107.5kg) at her heaviest, she has previously revealed. 

She said undergoing knee surgery in 2021 kickstarted a journey for her to improve her health and live a 'more vital and vibrant life.' 

The broadcast icon said she now eats her last meal at 4pm, drinks a gallon of water a day and uses WeightWatchers principles of counting points, along with regular hikes.

She added that her fitness and health routine are integral to maintaining her weight loss saying: 'It’s everything. 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.'

She said: 'I had an awareness of [weight-loss] medications, but felt I had to prove I had the willpower to do it. I now no longer feel that way.'

In the documentary, Oprah will also interview people who have used popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as professionals with experience in the field.