Oprah Winfrey’s Weight Loss Journey Sparks Conversation About ‘Ozempic Neck’
NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Winfrey’s decades-long struggle with weight and her recent, significant weight loss have once again thrust the topic of body image and health into the public conversation. While the media mogul has openly discussed using a GLP-1 prescription weight-loss medication, recent close-up photos have fueled online discussion about a newly coined phenomenon: “Ozempic neck.”
The term, which isn’t a formal medical diagnosis, refers to sagging or banding skin around the neck area following substantial weight loss. Comparisons of Winfrey’s appearance in 2014 versus 2024 show noticeable changes, with observers pointing to looser skin and more visible neck bands.
Winfrey first revealed in a December 2023 interview with People magazine that she began using a GLP-1 medication after years of battling her weight. These medications, including drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro, regulate appetite and blood sugar levels. She has since stressed that medication is only one component of a holistic approach to health.
“I’m absolutely done with the shaming from other people and particularly myself,” Winfrey told the magazine, explaining her perspective shifted after consulting medical experts for her project, The State of Weight. She emphasized the importance of regular exercise and mindful eating alongside medication for effective results.
Experts note that rapid weight loss can reduce underlying fat that supports the skin, potentially leading to a more lax appearance. However, age, genetics, hydration, and skin elasticity also play significant roles.
Winfrey has been candid about her experience, advising a gradual approach and medical supervision when considering GLP-1 medications. “You need to start slow and gradual,” she said in a 2025 interview. “If you start by taking too much at one time, you have more of a chance of messing yourself up.”
Despite the online chatter, Winfrey has expressed feeling healthier and more at peace after losing nearly 50 pounds. “Everything is just calmer and stronger,” she told People. “I hardly recognize the woman I’ve become. But she’s a happy woman.”
The conversation surrounding Winfrey’s weight loss highlights a broader trend. The phrase “Ozempic face,” describing a hollowed or gaunt look associated with GLP-1 medications, has already entered popular culture. However, Winfrey’s openness about her journey underscores that weight loss, regardless of the method, is a personal choice with potential physical effects that are often subject to public scrutiny. For Winfrey, the focus remains on well-being and self-acceptance.
