Oprah says access to weight-loss drugs are a gift and not something to be ridiculed for

Speaking to People in a new interview, the media mogul says she's over with the shame that comes with admitting that she uses these pharmaceutical aids.

"I'm absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself," Winfrey told People.

"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," Winfrey continued.

In July, the 68-year-old hosted a panel called Oprah Daily's "The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight" where she discussed weight loss and obesity with medical specialists.

For her, that discussion marked the turning point in her perspective towards these weight-loss drugs, she told People.

"I had the biggest aha along with many people in that audience," Winfrey said, adding that she had been blaming herself for being overweight without realising that she had a predisposition "that no amount of willpower is going to control".

While she opted not to name the specific drug she takes, Winfrey admits that she uses the medication here and there.

"I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing," she said.

However, she's adamant that the weight-loss drug is only good if she also exercises and watches her diet.

"I know that if I'm not also working out and vigilant about all the other things, it doesn't work for me," Winfrey said.

Above all, Winfrey says that her weight loss and fitness progress has allowed her to lead a "more vital and vibrant life."

"In Hawaii, I live on a mountain, and there's this big hill — I used to look out the window every morning and say, 'God, one day I want to walk up that mountain.' Last year over Christmas I did it . . . It felt like redemption," she added.

There has been a lot of buzz around weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy in the past year.

Also known by its generic name semaglutide, the medication regulates hunger signals and allows people to feel full while eating less.

However, the weight-loss drug has side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and constipation. Some patients also reported feeling disgusted by the foods they used to enjoy, while others say it made cigarettes taste "disgusting".