Oprah leaving WeightWatchers board after admitting she cheated with her diet: used weight-loss drug

Oprah Winfrey used to be extremely overweight and eventually made a life-saving decision to drop the pounds and live a healthier lifestyle. She became a WeightWatchers proponent and became a member of the company's board.

Now Oprah is leaving WeightWatchers' board and will donate her stake in the company in order to “eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications,” according to the firm, also known as WW International.

The company made the Oprah announcement Wednesday in a press release they shared with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It said the Winfrey will not be up for reelection at the May 2024 shareholder meeting.

Shares in WW International fell by 27% following the announcement, ending Oprah's nine-year tenure on the board.

Her current 1.4% stake in the New York-based weight loss program — reportedly worth about $12 million — will be donated to the National Museum of African American History and Culture during the company’s open trading window next month.

It was recently revealed that Winfrey has tapped popular weight-loss drugs as a “maintenance tool.” WeightWatchers brands itself as a self-reliant weight loss program so it doesn't look so good for them after the revelation. 

Her agreement in 2015 when she joined WeightWatchers uses a point system instead of a calorie count or other nutritional metrics to track what members eat during the day.

Winfrey, who used to resemble what could have passed for Lizzo's sister, battled weight problems over her long career. She once touted that she lost as much as 42 pounds on the program and shared person information on her blood pressure and blood sugar while on the program.

However, it was recently revealed that Winfrey has tapped popular weight-loss drugs as a “maintenance tool.”

WeightWatchers lately has been struggling as prescription weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have gained mainstream popularity. Even Winfrey admitted last year that she uses the once-weekly injections as a “maintenance tool,” although she refused to say whether she used either of these drugs.

Heaven forfend that she would exercise.

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