LOS ANGELES, Oct 1, (Agencies): Oprah Winfrey opened up candidly about her experience with weight stigma during a recent event. The media icon, aged 68, hosted a panel called "The Life You Want Class: The State of Weight" on Oprah Daily, addressing the global obesity and weight crisis affecting 2 billion adults. Joining her in the conversation were obesity experts Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford and Dr. Melanie Jay, psychologist Dr. Rachel Goldman, and Sima Sistani, the CEO of WeightWatchers.

During the panel, Oprah shared her personal journey, saying, "You all know I've been on this lifelong journey with my weight. At my heaviest, I weighed 237 lbs. I don't think there's another public figure whose weight struggles have been scrutinized as much as mine over the years."

She continued, acknowledging her recurrent efforts to manage her weight, "You've all witnessed me try various diets over time, and it's a constant battle because my body always seems to gravitate towards a specific weight."

Oprah emphasized the pervasive issue of weight stigma in society, remarking, "This world has been shaming people for their weight for as long as we can remember. Those of us who have experienced it know that people treat you differently, without a doubt."

Sharing a poignant example, the former talk show host recounted her experiences while shopping, saying, "It's that scenario where salespeople would say, 'Let me show you the gloves or handbags because there's nothing here for you.' There's a sense of condescension and stigmatization."

During the panel, Oprah also discussed her use of Ozempic, an FDA-approved medication for type 2 diabetes, which is a brand name for semaglutide and tirzepatide, also known as Wegovy and Mounjaro. These medications work on satiety in the brain and have gained popularity in Hollywood as a weight loss trend.

Oprah challenged society's perception of weight and body choices, saying, "Shouldn't we all just be more accepting of whatever body you choose to inhabit? It should be your choice. Even when I first learned about weight loss drugs, I was going through knee surgery, and I thought, 'I should do this on my own.' Taking the drug felt like the easy way out."

She also opened up about the relentless tabloid scrutiny she faced for 25 years, where she was consistently shamed for not having enough willpower in her weight loss journey.