I didn’t overshare. The thing is, I wouldn’t say anything about someone else that I wouldn’t say about myself, so I didn’t think it was a big deal. When I called her to tell her, she said, “I don’t know why people are acting like diarrhea is unusual. Sometimes people have it.” She wasn’t upset about it, but it spiraled into something bigger. Suddenly, everyone she’s ever known—from Swaziland to Australia, including childhood friends—started reaching out, asking, “Are you okay? I’m praying for you.” People were even setting up prayer circles. But she’s fine. She had an IV drip, and she’s really, really okay.
Rumors are spreading that Oprah Winfrey might be experiencing side effects from her OIC weight loss medication. Recently, Oprah and her best friend Gail King claimed her health scare was due to a stomach flu, but many people believe her hospitalization was caused by the medication.
Tragically, Oprah’s 39-year-old daughter, Naomi Rooney, died in June 2022 after taking OIC. Despite numerous reports of side effects, Oprah has remained largely silent on the issue.
“I was only on OIC for about four months when I ended up in the ICU for 10 days. I nearly died, honey,” said one person.
In recent months, Oprah has been a vocal advocate for weight loss medication, using it herself.
“For those who are happy and healthy in a bigger body and don’t want the medications, I say bless you. For those who believe diet and exercise is the best and only way to lose excess weight, bless you too if that works for you. And for those who think this could be the relief, support, and freedom they’ve been looking for their whole life, bless you, because there is space for all points of view,” Oprah said.
In December 2023, Oprah opened up in an exclusive interview with People, revealing that throughout her years in the public eye, her journey with body image has been widely scrutinized in the media, on magazine covers, and during her 25-season run of her talk show.
“I carried the weight of shame that society placed on me. For 25 years, my body was a national punchline.”
Recalling a particularly painful moment early in her career, Oprah shared how hurt she felt when she appeared on fashion critic Mr. Blackwell’s list, described as “dumpy, frumpy, and downright lumpy.”
“I was on a magazine cover and the headline read ‘dumpy, frumpy, and downright lumpy.’ I wasn’t angry; I was sad and hurt. I internalized that shame and blamed myself.”
After decades of self-blame, Oprah discussed how she adopted a comprehensive approach, including regular exercise and lifestyle changes, as well as incorporating weight loss medication into her routine.
“Got it, I see. Oprah shared that after she understood the science behind it, she no longer felt ashamed and talked to her doctor, who prescribed weight loss medication. She said, ‘Now I use it when I feel it’s necessary, to manage my weight consistently without the ups and downs.’ Having a medically approved option to stay healthy and manage weight in my lifetime feels like a relief, like redemption—a gift, really. It’s not something to hide behind or be judged for anymore, not even by myself.
For those who remember, Oprah also stepped down from the board of Weight Watchers, where she served as a director for nearly a decade. In a statement, she made it clear her decision had nothing to do with any issues at the company. She also announced she’d be donating all her stock in the company to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.
When she appeared on Jimmy Fallon a few months back, Oprah explained her decision to leave Weight Watchers, saying she wanted the freedom to talk about anything she wanted without any potential conflicts of interest.”
Oprah Winfrey has often discussed the benefits of weight loss medication, but she hasn’t delved into their potential side effects as much. These medications have been linked to serious issues, as seen in Australia where a woman named Trish tragically died after using weight loss injections to slim down for her daughter’s wedding. Her death, believed to be the first in Australia connected to these injections, sparked more families to come forward with similar stories after a report on 60 Minutes last year.
There’s been speculation about Oprah potentially facing similar health risks, although she recently attributed a health scare to a severe case of stomach flu. On June 11th, she missed a planned appearance on CBS Mornings with her close friend Gayle King due to illness. Gayle shared the details:
“She’s going to bounce back. Oprah had a bad stomach flu where she was dealing with symptoms from both ends. Without getting too graphic, it led to dehydration and she needed IV fluids in the hospital. It was quite serious, but she’s recovering well. I hope she won’t mind me sharing these details; it was important to her at the time.”
A spokesperson for Oprah confirmed that she had been hospitalized but was now recovering:
“Ms. Winfrey was dealing with a stomach virus and had to receive IV treatment for dehydration based on her doctor’s recommendation.”
After news of Oprah’s illness spread, social media was abuzz with various speculations. Gail felt compelled to clarify the situation during a FaceTime call with Oprah:
“She was hit hard by a stomach virus that left her severely dehydrated, necessitating a hospital visit for an IV drip. I thought I had made it clear, but suddenly headlines were saying ‘Oprah hospitalized,’ and my phone was blowing up with concerns. Just to be clear, she wasn’t actually hospitalized.”
During their conversation, Oprah explained that she ended up in the emergency room due to extreme dehydration from the stomach flu:
“I had to go to the ER because I was so dehydrated. It was like having a dry mouth and not being able to keep any fluids down. That’s why I had to go and get some help.”
Although she was now resting at home, Oprah admitted she wasn’t feeling completely back to normal yet, and she revealed that five people in her household were also dealing with the same illness.
According to Gail, she shared the details with good intentions, wanting to highlight the seriousness of Oprah’s reason for missing the show. Gail also checked with Oprah if she was okay with her revealing the news about her condition, and Oprah didn’t seem bothered by it.
“No, I understood you were explaining why I wasn’t there, and you did it in a clear way.”
“Okay, we can move on. Everyone who has my email has been calling to check on me. Thank you.”
Additionally, the official Instagram account for Oprah Daily praised Gail for announcing Oprah’s hospitalization on her behalf, saying:
“@Oprah was supposed to be on @CBSMornings today to announce her latest @OprahsBookClub selection when she fell ill with a stomach virus over the weekend. Being the amazing friend she is, @GayleKing offered to make the announcement for her. We’re happy to share that after receiving an IV for dehydration on her doctor’s recommendation, Oprah is feeling much better. Wishing her a speedy recovery.”
“Despite what’s been said, many still speculate that Oprah’s recent hospitalization could be linked to side effects from OIC. From what I’ve seen, finding clear information on this matter hasn’t been easy.
“I’m actually quite embarrassed about this. There was a time when I went back on OIC because I was upset about the weight I’d regained, and my doctors prescribed it again. They promised to monitor me closely this time, but after two months, I had pancreatitis again. It really made me realize how harmful this medication can be.”
However, it doesn’t seem like Oprah will directly address this issue. Do you think her hospitalization might be due to OIC? Or could there be an effort to cover it up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
