Serena Williams and Oprah on Deciding to Take GLP-1 Medications

But I love to dance. I can drop it. I. got knees like Megan. Now, >> would you like to see? >> I would love to see. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'll be like, >> hi everybody. Thank you for joining me. on the Oprah podcast. So great to be. here with you who are watching and those. of you are listening. and great to be. with this fantastic audience in New York.

City. So, I am really, really, really excited. for this episode because I have been. waiting to share with you all the. details of how my life has just opened. up in ways that I could never have. imagined. Okay. I feel strong. I feel. vibrant. And I feel more connected and.

alive than I have in decades, in. decades. And I can honestly say I feel. liberated. I feel a sense of freedom. And the reason I'm so excited to share. this is because just like me, I know. that 74%. of Americans, that's almost three4ers of. us in this country, share the same. struggle, being overweight or living. with obesity. And besides cancer, did.

you know this that besides cancer and. heart disease, this is the defining. health crisis of the modern age? And for. the first time, there actually is real. hope. So if you're one of those hundreds. of millions of people or you love. somebody who is one of the hundreds of. millions of people struggling with their. weight because of obesity, maybe this. rings true for you. I can say that. almost for as long as I can remember,

weight has been a source of shame and. embarrassment for me. In fact, I can. remember the very first time I was. embarrassed by the idea of weight. I'. I'd gotten a scale at the Kmart. and I was in the hallway standing on the. scale and I my father passed by and he. says, "No need to you weighing yourself. because you know you're going to be big. You're going to be big and no matter.

what you do, you're always going to be. big." He says, "Have you seen your. mother? have you seen your mother and. your mother's sisters? And he tells the. story. He says, I had your mother and. your mother's sisters in the back of my. Buick and I could hardly drive off with. my Buick because they were so big. And I. remember that moment and I carry that. with me throughout my life. You're going. to be big. You're going to be big. Remember your mother. Remember your. aunts. And about three years ago, that.

core belief that I was destined to be. big started to shift in the most. profound way when I learned that for so. many of us, obesity is a disease. The science is now clear. Obesity is not. a choice. It is not caused by a lack of. willpower or inherent laziness or you. not doing enough. It is a disease. And. this is one of the most astonishing. revelations of my lifetime I have to.

say. So I want to introduce you to Dr. Ana Yastaster. She is an endocrinologist. and professor at the Yale School of. Medicine. And hi Ana. >> Hi. Hi Oprah. >> For 15 years Dr. Ana has been at the. forefront of the research on the new. GLP1based medications. And now she has. written a book and I tell my weight loss. story in the book. And the book is. called Enough. Enough:

Your health and weight and what it's. like to be free. So my hope is that this. book will help all of you who are on. your own weight journey. Whether you are. taking the new GLP1 medications or not, it is the book that I wish I had when. I'd started and wish I'd had long ago. when I didn't even know that obesity was. a disease. So welcome back to the. podcast Dr. Ana. >> Thank you. Thank you so much for having. me. >> Uh you have been studying this now for.

decades and this is the thing that. struck me that you all who've been. studying this have known that obesity. was a disease at least for the past 10. years. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. We have actually longer. than that. >> Okay. Longer than that. Longer than. that. Okay. >> And how did we all miss the memo? Well, it's one thing for a medical. association to declare obesity as a. disease, right? So, the AMA declared.

obesity as a disease in 2013. The WH. declared it as a disease in 1948. And. actually, we already knew that obesity. was a disease back in Egyptian times. It's another thing to say that it's. because of biology and to understand. that there's an a biology that is. driving that obesity. And it wasn't. really until the mid 1990s with the. discovery of leptin, which is a hormone. made by our fat, that we started to. understand that hormones communicate. with the brain and that can lead to.

obesity biology. The the other part of. it is the new medicines. The new. medicines actually opened up an entire. new world in terms of helping us to. understand the biology of obesity. So. until we had effective treatments, there. wasn't necessarily a way to treat that. obesity. And so they were key in helping. us to understand the biology which is. why obesity is a disease, not because an. association declares it to be. >> Yeah, I I get that part. I So we what we. all want to know and for you to explain.

in as layman's terms as possible. um why it is a disease. Now, the very. first time I heard this, I likened it. into cuz I know there are a whole lot of. naysayers and a lot of people who want. to believe that it isn't, even though. the science is saying it is, but you. know, I've been through this. I've lived. long enough and done conversations long. enough that I remember in the very early. days of doing the Oprah show like in. like in 1986 1987 the very first time we.

did a show on alcoholism. >> and doctors were saying it it is. alcoholism is a disease the audience all. the people although we did not have. social media at the time were like oh no. just put down the bottle why can't you. just stop drinking people did not. understand yeah. >> that There are some people who are. genetically prone. >> for it being a disease and that. everybody who drinks is not an. alcoholic. But there are many people who. drink and because of what alcohol does.

to their bodies because of their genes. is very different than people who just. So is it the same thing? Lots of people. are eating in the world. Not everybody. is carrying the propensity for obesity. >> Yes. Not everybody is carrying the. propensity. Although as you pointed out. uh 2/3 or 3/4s of us actually are. So if. we had been born a 100red years ago all. of us would likely weigh less. So. somebody born 100. >> well because of our obesogenic.

environment. >> So an environment that is filled with. ultrarocessed food, lack of physical. activity, lots of stress, lack of sleep, all these things lead to the development. of obesity. they confuse our biology and. our biology is doing the best that it. can to adjust. Um, but if we had been. born, let's say somebody was supposed to. be normal weight 100 years ago, fast. forward to right now, they may actually. have overweight or be overweight. If. somebody was supposed to be overweight. 100 years ago, if they were born now, they may actually have obesity. And.

that's because our environment changed. much more quickly than our biology. because our biology evolved thousands of. years ago, hundreds of thousands of. years ago. >> Okay. So, is it a gene? Is it a hormone? Is it a something within my body that's. not in Reese Witherspoon's body? >> So, >> I love Reese and I go to Reese because. the first time you told me this and you. were saying, "Well, it's our. environment." I say I said Reese.

Witherspoon lives in the same. environment. >> Yeah. Yeah, she does. >> She actually lives in the same. neighborhood. >> She does. She does. >> And Reese does not have this problem. >> Yeah. Um, and you may walk your dogs. together. Um, so genetically she may. have genetic thinness and I don't know I. I don't know uh the details of of Reese. Witherspoon, but she may be more likely. to be resistant to that environment, but. most of us most of us are not. Most of. us end up gaining weight. Now, in terms. of the genetics of it, for most people,

it's not just one gene. There are people. who have monogenic so single gene forms. of obesity but for most of us it's. polygienic. It's it has to do with our. family. So as your dad had had pointed. out um so if if our parents have obesity. we are more likely to have obesity. Um. so there's many genes that are involved. but it's true some people are more. resistant to that environment than. others. >> Okay. Over the years I think I've gained. and lost and gained and lost probably. you know hundreds of pounds. Yeah. And.

everybody has seen me pull out the wagon. of fat and I thought that was the end of. it. And then I ran a marathon and then. I've done Weight Watchers. I've done. hundreds of diets just like many of you. have done hundreds of diets. And I know. so many of you feel as I felt like your. body is fighting against you. >> And in the book Enough, you talk about. >> us all having an internal thermostat. >> And mine I think is set at 211bs.

>> Yes. And I say that because my body is. always when when I first went on the did. the fast back in 1988 and pulled out the. wagon of fat. I started out at 211 lbs. After I ran the marathon, put the weight. back on. >> I went back to 211 lbs. 211 seems to be. the set point for me between 211 and. 218. My body is fighting to get to 211. Why is that? >> Your your body's biology is extremely. strong. Extremely strong. >> I see that she is. Yes. Yes, she is.

Yes, she is. >> She's a tough old girl. >> And she's a tough old girl who wants to. be 211. >> Yes. And I don't know anybody else who has. more grit than you do. I mean, you have. more grit than someone who has scaled. Mount Everest. You have tried. everything. You have dieted. You have. run marathons. It's just like you said, you have so much grit. And yet, you. cannot overcome this. And that's because. we cannot willpower away the biology of. obesity. >> Okay. This is the most important thing. to know for everybody who's naysaying.

and doesn't really get it yet. Your body. is always fighting to get back to a. certain internal thermostat. >> Yeah. >> And for all of us, that thermostat is. different. As I just said, mine seems to. be between 211 and and 218. You all are. all thinking about what your number is, right? Because you always, no matter. what, end up back in in in in that in. that range. >> And I can explain it with an analogy. So, we can think about a house and a.

house has a thermostat. We don't really. think about it. It's just set to a. certain temperature. Let's say 70° F. And when it is hot outside, what. happens? The AC turns on. We don't think. about it, right? When it's cold outside, what happens? The furnace turns on. And. ultimately, that temperature is 70° F. It's just there. Your body does this. with so many different things. It does. this with body temperature. So, for. example, body temperature 98.6. Are any. of us sitting here thinking to. ourselves, I must keep my body.

temperature 98.6. No, we're not. If. we're cold, like we are right now, we. shiver. >> Yeah. >> If we are hot, then we will sweat, right? So, we keep it there. It turns. out our body does the exact same thing. with fat. It has this amount of fat in. mind. And for Oprah, that amount of fat. somehow equates to about 211 pounds. So, what does that mean? When Oprah diets, when she exercises, when she does all. the things, all the things, what happens.

is her appetite increases. Her appetite. increases and her body says, "Eat more. and burn less. Be more efficient with. the energy that you have." In the same. way, what our body does is actually when. we gain weight, it does the opposite. It. turns down our appetite and it helps us. burn more. But the way that we are built. is to actually always want more. And the. reason why we always want more and why. our body doesn't think that it has. enough is because we are built for. survival.

And so we don't want to starve. So every. time Oprah tried to lose weight, her. body was like, "You're starving. You. better go eat something else. You better. conserve your energy. Do not lose that. weight. I do not want. >> Is that what the food noise is?". >> That's what the food noise is. >> That's exactly what the food noise is. And and for those of you who have never. experienced food noise because you live. in a thinner body and you don't have. obesity as a disease or as an issue for. you, please explain what food noise is.

because I remember talking to somebody. and they were like, "What do you mean? What do you mean food?" Oh, I know. >> Oh, you don't know what it is. Okay. Okay. >> So, food noise is a manifestation of. that biology of that striving to. survive. So basically what happens is if. we are living below our um set point or. our enough point. So again in Oprah's. case 211 pounds. What happens is her. body's like well we got to find a way to. eat more. You got to eat more. If you.

don't eat more we're going to die. So. constantly she may walk by the kitchen. and be like is there something for me to. snack on? Is there something is. >> I call that that grazing thing where. you're just standing in the pantry. you're standing with the refrigerator. You don't even. >> you just you and so food noise is a. manifestation of that biology. It is. persistent. It is disruptive. It is. intrusive. It really takes our attention. away from all these other things that we. could be doing. And any time that. somebody is living below their enough.

point, they may experience food noise. >> But here's the thing. Here's the thing. The moment I took the first GLP1, I mean like the next day, the food noise. subsided and I thought, "What the living. hell is going on here?" Because all. these years, I always thought that those. of you who do not suffer from this, have. not had obesity or the experience of it. I always thought you all were just. stronger, that your willpower was.

greater, that you that in spite of all. the things I've been able to do in my. life, that some many of you have that. thing that allows you to not to think. about food and. >> then I realized you weren't even. thinking about it. >> That's right. >> You weren't even thinking about it. You. describe in enough that the discovery of. the GLP-1 medications is similar to the. discovery of penicellin and insulin. Why.

are these medications different than. anything we've ever experienced before? >> Yeah. Well, there are these moments in. medicine like the discovery of insulin. or penicellin. These medicines taught us. about the diseases. They taught us about. the biology and they save millions of. people's lives. And that's exactly what. these medicines are doing. They're. teaching us about the biology just as we. talked about. And they're going to save. millions of people's lives. And they. already are. And here's why. Because. obesity in and of itself is a disease.

that affects so many of us. But obesity. is also associated with over 200 other. diseases. 200. So diseases like. diabetes, like heart disease, certain. types of cancer, hypertension, high. cholesterol, all these things. And what. is the number one killer of Americans. today? It is heart disease. It is heart. disease. And if you are a woman and you. have obesity, your risk for developing. heart disease is 50% higher. And if you.

are a man, it's 70% higher. And if you. already develop type two diabetes, it is. 90% higher. So if we can effectively. treat obesity, we can treat 200 other. obesity related diseases and literally. save lives. >> Well, I think there isn't that's really. I think there's still u I think there's. still a lot of confusion around how and. why the GLP-1 medicines work. the this.

book goes into great detail uh that I. know is going to help a lot of you on. the journey uh be able to wrap your. brains around this. Can you explain it. briefly how it works? How cuz you think. it's working on your stomach, it's not. It's working on your brain. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, what happens is that um. our body wants to survive. And so, it. sets this in Oprah's case and in many. many people's case, it sets a higher. enough point. Our body doesn't think it. has enough. So, it's always striving for.

more, for more fuel, for more fat, for. more energy to store. >> That's why you called the book that. >> Yes, that's exactly why I called the. book that. I woke up with the idea for. the title shortly after the idea of for. the book came up and it, you know, it. really perfectly captured the essence. and that's because our body doesn't. think it has enough. Oprah's body. doesn't think it has enough. And the. medicines re-calibrate. They lower the. enough point so that your body knows it. has enough. Enough food doesn't need.

anymore. You just you just are you've. had enough. The other reason why it's. called enough is because we have so. unfairly and tragically blamed people. for having a disease that is not their. fault and that is not their choice. This. is about biology. This is about having a. disease. And so we've had enough shame. and blame. The book. >> that's what the enough meant to me. Enough. enough like enough. We've had. enough. >> Yeah. So, this is what I know for sure. Uh that some people, no matter what you.

do, you can't lose the excess weight. We've watched Serena Williams win. championships after championships. You. all know she is the GOAT, the greatest. of all times. She is an elite world. class athlete, working out every single. day, eating healthy food. Even she could. not win the battle until now. Come on. out here, Serena Williams.

23time Grand Slam champion, the goat. Serena Williams says her struggle with. weight began after giving birth to her. two daughters. In August 2025, Serena. announced that she lost 31 lbs on a. GLP-1 medication and is now partnering. with the teaalth company Row to share. her story.

>> Well, this is the thing. when you came. out for row, >> I went, "Holy Lord Jesus and all your. disciples,". >> I felt that that was a seinal moment and. I was like so proud of you because I. knew that you were going to get a whole. lot of, "Oh, how dare you and what do. you mean and what was that like for you. that the the day that you came out for. row?". >> Um, I just felt good, you know, first of. all, you know me, I don't listen to the. noise. I'm like, get in line. There's a.

very long line. >> Go all the way to the back and you're. going to be a long time before I hear. that complaint. But it made so much. sense cuz as you were saying, I'm an. elite athlete and I loved hearing what. you were talking about cuz all that. stuff makes so much sense. And I think. everyone's personal body is different. Yes. And like the food noise, like all. the benefits that the GOP ones can have. I just feel like for me, I just felt. totally different. And I'm literally.

like my last my last match at the Open, I literally was working eight hours a. day in the gym training and I never. could lose an ounce. In fact, I feel. like I may have even gained weight. >> Wow. Wow. And it was incredible how my. body looked even though I was putting in. hours and I'm talking we're in the. summer in Florida putting in hours and. hours and hours of training and I was. eating like. >> that's when I said Lord Jesus you know. >> that if Serena Williams who's working. out eight hours a day.

>> literally. >> cannot lose weight something's up. The. biology is. >> I think it's biology and I think also. when you have kids maybe that biology. changes. But I feel like a little. changes and then you just learn so much. about the GLP1s and how much they're. affecting your body with the different. proteins that it's doing and. >> Yeah. >> And it's just. >> So it did change for you after having. your first child. >> I Yeah, absolutely. It did change for. me. Yeah. I couldn't lose weight the way.

I used to. >> Yeah. >> And it was actually virtually. impossible. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. With eight hours. I mean I I can't. even imagine. and your workouts. We've. seen your workouts. >> Yes. My workouts are insane. A. professional athlete. I was actually. playing a professional sport. >> Yes. >> So, I felt. >> Drop the mic, y'all. That's it. >> I felt it so important to tell my story. cuz I felt like a lot of people could. relate to that. >> And I loved when you shared your story. because for the very reason you are the. most amazing athlete.

>> and all of time. >> of all times. But I couldn't beat that weight. >> Yes. couldn't beat the weight. The one. opponent I could not defeat. >> is the weight. >> Yes. So, it was so exciting to work with. Ro and then they really wanted with. them, they really wanted to tell a. story. They didn't just want to just. single out like me. They really wanted. to tell a story about so many people. were dealing with what I was dealing. with. And. >> I read that you were initially skeptical.

of the GLP1. >> Absolutely. Because it's like the skinny. shot and like it's a shortcut. And so. for years I didn't well not for years. but for a long time I didn't do it and I. didn't want to do it. Yeah. And I. thought like I'm not gonna take the. shortcut, you know? I'm I'm gonna work. harder. But then eventually I was like I. I've tried everything. I've tried every. diet. I've tried every workout. I've. tried walking for hour. I would go to. Europe and Paris and I would just walk. for hours and the 20,000 steps a day. like every single thing, you know, and. nothing was working. Or I would get So.

this was killing me backstage. I would. lose the weight, but my body liked to BE. AT A CERTAIN WEIGHT AND THAT WAS SO. EYEOPENING for me. I was like, I feel. like I didn't know that. >> Enough point. >> Yes. I was like there and it's it's so. weird cuz it's like whenever I lose. weight, it's like all of a sudden I'll. get even hungrier and I'm like my And. when I reach a certain weight, it wants. to go back to the other weight. And I'm. like, no, it's your biology. That's your. biology. >> You get hungrier. And guess what? When. you're playing those amazing tennis.

matches, your body's burning less. It's. more efficient. So, it's making you eat. more and burn less. >> because it wants to keep you at that. enough point. >> Listen, and and I had enough of that. enough point. >> That's right. That's right. >> So, what made you change your mind about. trying the medications? Well, honestly, um I've heard a lot about this. medication, about the GLP1s, not only. for weight loss. So, that's the original. reason I got on it because I was like, listen, first of all, I do want to lose. weight, but there's also other benefits. I don't know if you can share those.

benefits. But anyway, I thought there I. saw I read there's lots of other. benefits in the GLP. I'm so excited to. read your book because there are so many. more benefits from GLP1, >> but I was like, let me at least try. those benefits and maybe I can lose. weight with it. But. >> I would like to say again, everyone's. body is different. So, I don't know how. you guys all feel. >> I didn't lose you lost weight. You the. food noise stopped for you. You said. instantly. >> Yeah. It stopped like the next day. >> a month or two for me. Really? >> Yeah. And I don't know if anyone else. had that, you know, experience, but a. couple of my friends are like, "Oh, I've.

been on it for a month and I've only. lost like three pounds." I'm like, "That's okay. I I actually probably lost. one pound.". >> Um, so I think everyone's personal body. talk like I'm like, "Talk to me about. that. WHY WHY EVERYBODY LOSES. DIFFERENTLY?" I I know somebody that. just started, they lost a female who. lost on the lowest lowest lowest dose. lost 13 pounds in one month. That is. highly unusual. I hear that there are. super responders to this medication and. there are low responders. There are some. people who respond really really.

strongly to it and other people don't. >> And that's cuz there's different types. of obesities. There's not one type of. obesity. There's different types of. obesity. We just haven't figured. >> I had the tough time. >> You have the tough time. You have the. tough but you responded which is really. wonderful. And likely what what happened. with you is you probably needed a higher. dose. You got to start at the low dose. We'll talk about side effects later, but. we got to start at the lowest dose and. go up. >> If you don't start at the low dose, everybody, we will talk about side. effects later, but if you don't start at. the low dose, that's why a lot of people.

were having major side effects in the. beginning throwing up, all of the. gastrointestinal issues come when you. take too high of a dose and you don't. gradually move into higher doses. >> So, it's really good because it sounds. like you started at at the appropriate. low doses. You go by the book. Got to go. by the book. Got to go by the book. And. then you go up and you probably just. needed to get to that higher dose. It. just takes time. But that's a good. thing. The weight did not come on. overnight. We don't want it to come off. overnight. We want to do it slowly. We.

want to do it well. We want to maintain. all that wonderful muscle mass, right? We don't want to lose it all at once. So, this is very good. This is very. good. Yeah. >> Good. So, you you you've been now taking. the medications for nearly a year. What's changed for you? So, my life, I. feel happier. I mean, I feel like I have. more energy for my kids. Um, I have a I. just feel like I can do more. Don't. laugh, but I love to dance. I can drop. it. I got knees like Megan now.

Would you LIKE TO SEE? YES, I like to. see. OKAY. >> WOW. So great, >> you know, but seriously, >> it affects my joints in a like my joints. are so much lighter and so much better. and I can I'm like, "Oh my goodness, I. just wish I had have done this while I.

was still playing." Like it would have. made such a big difference for me in my. career. >> Come back. >> I could. But yeah, so it's just as I. skip over that. Okay. It was it's just. like it's affected me like I feel. physically so much better. I feel more. alert and it's just to be able to do. things that I could never do. Like even. when I was playing I could never do that. at my highest because I realized it was. extra weight that my joints were. carrying. >> And like I I can go to the clubs now.

>> We saw you. We saw you listen during the. Super Bowl doing the thing we did. True. >> I hear I hear you. you you really want. people to understand and I think this is. so important that the medications are. not a shortcut. I mean, first of all, I. think that's why I was so proud of you. because for you, Serena Williams, the. greatest of all times to say you were. having problems and now you understand.

that it was because of your biology and. your enough point for you to not to be. able to conquer the weight means it's. it's it it's it's truly biological. Yeah. And it's so relatable because so. many people as we see are dealing with. this. Obesity is a real thing and the. more I read about it, the more how it's. just going to help so many things. >> Like you were talking about heart. disease, which is the number one killer. >> killer of Americans. and it's just. >> 13 types of cancer, diabetes, all these.

different things. >> Well, but yeah. Yeah. I love the way the. way I I loved I love the row ad where. you said, "I don't take shortcuts.". >> Yes. I don't. >> You don't. >> And so I thought that was another thing. and I loved how Ro wanted to put this. together because I've never taken a. shortcut in my life. In fact, I would go. the longer way to make sure I was the. best, to make sure I did the extra work, to make sure I did the most. And so for. me, and that's why it took me a little. bit to want to start on the GLP one. because I thought, well, is this a. shortcut? And it really wasn't. It's. just if anything, it's just a shortcut.

to better health. And that's just the. way to look at it. >> And and it's a way to get healthy. If. you had diabetes, we wouldn't say, well, I'm sorry, you can't have any insulin. You got to do all these things. >> We wouldn't say, "Let me try to do. without the insulin as long as I can.". Exactly. let me concentrate really. really hard and make my blood sugars. normal. We would never say that to a. patient. Why do we say okay for the rest. of your life control every morsel of. food that you're eating. Control every. movement that you're doing for the rest. of your life. Why would we ever do that? Let's treat the biology. Let's treat the. biology just like we treat it for any.

other disease. So this is absolutely not. a shortcut. This is a way to treat your. disease. >> But I hate that we weren't looking at it. as a disease. We were looking at it in a. different way. But if you do change how. you look at it and change the. conversation, this is why this. conversation is so important. I'm so. glad we talked about this cuz I'm like. we have. >> I told you we was have to do something, >> you know, and so it's about having these. types of conversations and educating. people that this is a disease now treat. it. >> Yes. And you're a huge part of that. obviously. So is Oprah.

>> Yes. Shade, what did you want to say? >> Oh my gosh, Shireena. I was on the. subway on my way to work when I read the. article about you being on the GLP1s and. I immediately signed up with row while. on the train because given that you are. the goat and your career is evidence of. that. I just knew I could see myself in. you and just know that it's been. working. I mean since August I've lost. over 20 pounds. >> Wow. >> And as a psychologist by trade I've. always appreciated how you've just. showed emotional strength and.

vulnerability throughout your career. It's really helped women like myself and. my clients be able to understand that. like resilience is not about, you know, not meeting challenges, but really. meeting yourself with self-compassion. and grace. And while being uh with row. on these GLP1s, I've just had so much. compassion for myself. I mean, I was. working out four times a week doing hit. workouts. >> I love a hit workout. >> Yes, I love, you know, it messes up the. silk press, but I love it. But, you.

know, I wasn't seeing any results and I. still had cravings. And then once I. started the GLP ones, I'm still doing. the HIT workouts four times a week. I. still have energy to show up and do. that. So, it's just been Thank you so. much. >> Doesn't it make the workouts that much. better? I That's what I've noticed. My. workouts have improved like. exponentially. >> Absolutely. And my knees like I'm not. going to drop to. >> Well, just in case you want to. But even. with running, I'm noticing my my joints.

and knees are not, you know, feeling as. tight and heavy and sore. >> Yeah. And and there are, you know, we. think there are anti-inflammatory. effects. So, it's carrying less and it's. the anti-inflammatory and that's, you. know, that's where a lot of the research. is now because patients are sharing with. us what they're experiencing. So, already two examples right here. Food. noise, the joints, the anti-inflammatory. effects. So, we're learning from all of. you. We're literally learning from all. of you. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Well, and don't you feel freer? Don't. you feel freer?

>> I feel freer. I feel I feel better. I. have more confidence. Not that I The. thing is, it's not that I didn't have. confidence before cuz I did, but it's. just it's just different. You know what. I mean? It just it just heightens and. that and it's like that self-love. It's. like you have it, but then it just. >> comes out in a different type of way. And it takes away things that you didn't. know that you were feeling or you were. subconsciously feeling because of the. extra weight that you had on you that. you try. You said you would do four walk. workouts a day. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And like how you weren't losing. the weight. I can totally relate. You.

look great, by the way. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Well, we know you have a busy schedule. So, thank you for stopping by. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me so. much, Serena. Greatest of all time. >> Nice to meet you. >> The greatest of all time. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. See you later. See. you. >> Take care. >> Bye, everyone. Thank you. >> Bye, Shireina. So, uh, I want to bring in this audience. who have questions. Elizabeth, >> hi Oprah. Hi, Dr. Ana. Thank you so much.

for including me in this important. conversation. Um, I've struggled with my. weight throughout my whole life. And. then I entered the realm of pmenopause. >> where my body just continued to expand, especially my midsection. And no matter. what I did, I could not contain it. It. just kept stretching and stretching and. stretching. And so. >> which makes you even more prone to heart. disease does it not like women who carry. weight carry carry the weight in the.

middle carried it there and it kept on. going with a mind of its own. So. anything like I said anything I did just. wasn't working and um I've heard of. GLP1s and when Oprah you shared your. experience and success with GLP1. and a dear friend and co-orker of mine. had a had a profound effect on her life. I said, "I gotta give this a try." The. alternative is what? >> So, I went on Zepbound. It's been eight.

months. I've lost 52 pounds. >> Wow. >> What's even more exciting when someone. sees me and they were like, "Wow, you've. lost so much weight." I was like, "I. don't have high cholesterol anymore.". That's right. >> That to me is like gold. I My. cholesterol's been high for so long. It's finally normal for the first time. >> My A1C is normal. Inflammation. What. inflammation? It's It really has. >> How's your blood pressure? >> Life life-changing. >> And blood pressure. >> I've That's good, too. I mean, just.

everything has been when I got my labs, which now labs to me, that's like a rock. star. My labs are great. >> Yeah. >> I wear it with a badge of honor cuz I. have three daughters and I want to lead. by example and show that things are. possible. >> Yes. So, and the food noise when after. the first day of trying it, I was like, "Wow." Yes. >> I didn't know what food noise was till. that voice was gone. >> Yes. >> And so my question is back to food. noise. Like why do some people have food.

noise and some people like my husband. does not have the food noise? >> Yes. Yes. Yes. So first, thank you for. sharing your story. It is one that we. hear so much. Perry menopause is a time. where people gain weight and where women. start to carry more fat around their. bellies just like you said and that can. cause diabetes. It can cause all these. different things that you're talking. about. So, I'm so glad that you are. getting healthier, that you are feeling. healthier and that you're feeling great. in terms of the food noise. Um, so it.

really depends. So, some people just. don't have it. But people who live away. from their uh set point, from their. enough point. So your husband may not be. living away from his enough point. He. may be living exactly where his brain. wants him to be. His brain wants him to. carry a certain amount of fat. That's. where he is and that's where he stays. For you, you were working at trying to. decrease your weight to to lose some of. that fat. And so let's say you were 15.

pounds away from wherever you were going. to be. Your brain was trying to pull you. back up. And a great way that your. brain, your brain's super smart. It's. like, uh-uh, you got to eat more. You. got to eat more. So, it was manifesting. that biology of not having enough to. bring you back up to where it wanted you. to be. So, the farther away you are from. your enough point, the more food noise. you are likely to have. >> Thank you. >> So, Carolyn, Carolyn's in our audience. Carolyn, tell us your story and your. question. >> Yes. Um, I have struggled with obesity.

my whole life. Um, I was three years old. when a doctor told my mom that I should. go on a diet because I was on the high. end of the weight scale. So, it's just. something that has always been with me. Struggled with the binge restrict cycle. throughout my teenage years. When I was. 25, I hit 401.6 pounds and decided that. I was going to have gastric bypass. surgery. So, I did at uh 25 years old in. 2020. And in that first year, I lost 180.

pounds. >> Incredible. And I felt amazing. And then. for the next year, I felt like that food. noise was coming back. >> Yeah. >> And I wasn't losing any more weight, even though I wanted to lose more. >> Yeah. >> I just felt like I was fighting my own. body on a day-to-day basis, just to even. stay where I was, not even to lose more. weight. Yeah. >> And then I found these GLP-1. medications. Heard about them on social.

media. Um, and I've been on Zetbound for. 3 years. It's changed my life. I've lost. an additional 60 lbs. >> I feel so much better in myself and have. so much more freedom. Like I didn't. realize how much time was spent thinking. about food. >> and now I can go about my day and not. think about what am I going to have for. lunch? What am I going to have for. dinner? What am I going to have for a. snack? Am I still hungry? Do I need to.

eat this? Like. >> just so much time and energy was spent. on what I was going to eat. And then. >> why am I not enough? Um why am I not. doing enough to to change my weight? >> Yeah. Um, and. >> the title works no matter. >> Absolutely. >> Very good title. I see it works for. everyone. Yes. >> And so I understand that with the weight. with your mind and your body, it sort. of, you know, settles on this certain. weight. >> Yes. >> And why would it do that in the sense.

that like why would it settle on a. weight that's not healthy for you? And. is there a way to ever change it? Yeah, that is such a great question. So, thank. you. Your story is incredible. Um, you. have persevered. You've tried all sorts. of different treatments for your obesity. throughout your entire life. You. developed obesity at a very young age. For people who develop obesity at a very. young age, so less than 5 years old,

there's likely more of a genetic. component. So I don't know you know. obviously your your history and your. medical history and everything but. likely there's a stronger genetic. component for you than for other people. Um there are many patients who require. beriatric surgery and then medications. afterwards. So uh around 12 to 18 months. after buriatric surgery we can start to. see some weight regain um and and it. might be disease progression meaning. your your body would have continued to.

gain weight and the the medications. really help with that just as they have. helped you. They again they recalibrate. they lower that enough point even more. and that is why you have more freedom. from that food noise. That's why you're. not thinking about food all the time. the question of why um why our body. allows this. I think that the the the. desire to survive is so strong that our. body our brain specifically has to make. this decision. It makes the decision. well do I store more fat so that I don't.

starve so that I survive no matter what. No matter what I survive I survive. I. survive or do I decrease that enough. point and potentially risk not. surviving? There is an upper limit. Meaning that if there wasn't because all. of us eat enough that we would actually. all weigh over a thousand pounds, right? There is an upper limit, but that upper. limit it's it's not clear why it's set. so much higher than for other things in. our body. But it's a great question. I'm. so glad that you're persevering and I'm. so glad that all these things have.

helped you. Um you seem like you're. doing great. Yeah, I think the most. important thing for everyone to know who. suffers from from obesity, uh, and it was always a hard word for me. to even use because it's been so. stigmatized that we didn't even want to. use the word obesity or obese to. describe ourselves. um but anybody who. suffered from it, I think the most. important thing to understand and. particularly this book that you've. written um enough is that it's not your.

fault. >> That's right. >> It's not your fault. I heard another. doctor uh recently in Australia say that. genes uh load the gun. >> and the environment pulls the trigger. >> Yes. And I got you get that right. Genes. load the gun and the environment pulls. the trigger. Yes. And depending on how. your genes are loaded into the gun that. is you and the environment that you're.

in, you get the body that you have. And. so I think to actually understand that. that was Dr. uh George Orrigas who says. that. So I want you all to meet now. Julius Graham. Julius is a family. member. He is Steedman's nephew. So, I've known him for many, many, many, many, many years and have been through. many, many, many, many weight loss. programs with him. He's now lost 64. pounds on a GLP-1 medication. His story. is also featured in Dr. Ana's book. called Enough. And Julius, you said that.

many years food was your best friend. Explain why. >> Well, I used food to cope. I um I didn't. know how to survive without it. I I just. uh from an early age when I was stealing. cookies from a relative from the cookie. jar where they had to hide the cookie. jar. Hiding food under the bed. >> Hiding food on the bed. Can I tell this. story? >> Yes. >> So Julia. >> Julius lived with us for a while. Julius. lived uh in Chicago uh with Seb and I. for a while. And one day we were in the.

kitchen talking. Remember this? We're. talking and we were talking about great. snacks. And I said, "You know what I. loved? I used to love that Fig Newton. commercial where they say, "Darn to I. like Fig Newton's." And I said, "Boy, would I love a Fig Newton right now.". And Julia said, "You want some fig. newtons?". Honestly, he takes me to his bedroom and. under the bed are Oreos, Fig Newton's.

>> True story. I mean, Cheetos, Red Hot Cheetos, Ruffles, every I mean, it's like a store. under there. And I went, >> but I was just like, >> "What is going on in here?". >> Oh, no. >> Yeah. >> So, I realized as I got older that I was. actually addicted to food. I I tried. every diet. Went to rehab for food. addiction. Did OA overeaters anonymous. Did diet weight loss centers from as. early as my freshman year at in college.

I tried everything. I I tried all the. diets. And the problem with all that was. I started to take on the identity of. like something's wrong with me. I'm not. enough. >> I'm broken. I'm wounded. And that. affected every area of my life. And so. I'm so grateful for these GLP1s because. it saved my life. >> Saved my life. Gave me a life. >> Tell them about the story about your. grandmother. >> My grandmother? Uh, okay. She wants me.

to cry. >> No, I don't want you to cry. I want you. to tell the story because I thought this. was a siminal moment for you. >> Yeah. Um, so for a long time in my life, I had. been hiding and felt invisible. Um, and so my grandmother, I got a call. that she wasn't going to make it. My. grandmother raised me from a from a baby. and I got the call that she wasn't going. to make it. And I told myself in my.

diseased mind and my biology mind um my. addict mind that I just need to lose 5. lbs, you know, before I go to see her. before she passes away. >> And how heavy were you in that moment? >> I was probably in the 300s. And I had so. much shame and so much uh self- torture. and you know just so I didn't want to go. home. I didn't want anybody to see me. I. was embarrassed. I grew up with all the. weight the weight issues and I felt like. I would be teased and they would still.

say, "Look at him. He's still not enough. enough." And so anyway, I said, "Let me. book my flight." So I booked the flight. I said, "I'm going to need five days. because I can lose a pound a day." And. as if five pounds mattered when you. weigh 300 lb, nobody would have cared. So the night before I left um I got a. call and the co.

you know the call the call was your. grandmother you know she's gone. that morning I was leaving supposed to. leave you know that morning that that. very morning. So I've never forgiven. myself for that. Um, I was too late. And I I just I've carried that. I've. carried that for many years. And it's. good to hear and it's nice to hear that. it wasn't my fault because I felt so I.

tortured myself about that. The woman. who raised me from a baby, who took me. in and raised me, I I I didn't see her before she passed. away. And I I made that I also included that. into my identity of oh now you're just. not a good person. You didn't even see. your grandmother before she passed away. And so I've lived with that. And. >> but as you're sharing that story, Julius, I can hear other people. sniffling and I can hear other people.

thinking about how you've allowed weight. in your own life to hold you back from. something that was really important. Lots of us have not shown up in the way. that we needed to show up in our lives. because for one reason or another you. wanted to lose 10 pounds or 15 pounds or. you didn't feel like you were enough to. be there in that moment. So I really do, you know, you and I have talked about. this a lot. Hope that you come to some.

peace about it understanding number one. the weight wasn't your fault. And also I. I I I was I was sharing with Julius. I. said it reminds me of how many times. I've gone to the doctor. Anybody else. done that? And you like take one foot. off the scale when you're being weighed. and if you're 211 lbs, like 218 is not. going to make a difference in what the. number really is. But you think that it. is in your mind. If you're three or five. pounds less that it's going to make a. difference. You think if you're 300 lb.

and I lose 5 lbs, it's going to make a. difference to somebody. And it doesn't. And I and I I think it's really. appropriate that you said in my diseased. mind. Yeah. I I was thinking that way. And you were at first reluctant. You. shared with me you were reluctant for. the GLP ones too because. >> well I thought it was the shortcut like. Serena said. I I I was taught to grind. it out and willpower it out and. discipline it out. >> And I was the guy who spent four to six. hours in the gym as well.

>> And so I could never work out enough. And then something really struck me. This woman here who is the hardest. working person I know, >> the most disciplined, the mo who has all. the willpower, who has all the grit, as. you said, >> if she can't do it, how how am I going. to do it? How am I going to do it? I I. didn't stand a chance. So, that clicked. for me, but it took a while. It took a. while. >> And so, what has happened now that. you've been on the the medications? What.

has it been like for you? I mean, my. life is just opened up in a way that has. never opened up. I'm fully alive, fully. engaged. My relationships are better. Everything in my life is just. exponentially better. >> You write and this is enough that. self-lame is one of the most pernicious. effects of this whole disease and shame. is it. Yep. >> Yeah. But your story is, I mean, when I. heard it the first time, it's it's. heartbreaking. And so many of our.

patients, so many people with obesity, that's exactly what they experience. And. it's so unfair. It is so tragic. Why. have we blamed people for this long? It's about biology. And now you know. that. And you know, I hear in your words. now the freedom that you feel. And I. wish we had these medicines hundreds of. years ago or decades ago. >> We do too. >> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Yeah. >> So that you didn't have to. >> I'm kind of ticked off that since 2000. uh since 2013. Y'all have known. >> we haven't. we. >> It's 2023 when I catch up. >> We did we did have medications and we. still have them. They're not as. effective as the ones that you're taking. now. We still use them. Um, but we. didn't have as effective medications. yet. So, I'm grateful that we have them. now. I'm grateful that we can help. patients. We can help Julius.

>> We can help our patients. >> Thank you. Thank you, Julius. Thank you. You know, I love you. Thank you. Thank. you. You know, I love you. >> We have been through it. We have been. through it. We have been through it. Tim. Tim is a Tim is a high school teacher. and lacrosse coach. Bravo to you. I know. we need so many more male teachers right. now. What is your question for Dr. Ana? >> Hi, thanks for having me. I appreciate. to be part of this conversation. Um, so. my my number was like 220. I was.

carrying 220 for years which was. overweight for me. >> That's your enough point. >> That was my enough point. Yeah. >> At 5'8 and a half was a bigger number. than what I have liked. So several years. ago had about a six-month window of. pretty heavy family stress. My mother. had a stroke. Brother had major heart. surgery and my other brother was. diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. So I kind of ate all that on and uh got. up to 246. So that was about a little. over a year ago. So a friend of ours had.

real good success with the program and I. knew my my father died of a heart attack. years ago and had four previous heart. attacks and a stroke as well. So, I knew. the heart thing was a real threat. So, uh, went on Zepbound, lost, I'd say, was. a super responder. I dropped in a hurry. I dropped 60 probably in five months, hit 70 by 6 months, tapered the dose, got to where I am now, which is 185. So, my question is now that I'm at a good. weight, my blood levels been good. Um, that blood pressure is really good.

>> Great. >> Um, you know, do I have to stay on it. forever? Can I can I even lower the dose. more without going back up? >> Yeah. >> And if I do have to stay on it, you. know, what are some long-term effects? Yeah. You know, from that as well. >> Great question. Yes, >> that's the question we want. >> That's the question. >> Um, and this is probably one of the most. common questions, if not the most common. question that we get both from patients. and from healthcare providers. And at. the crux of it that the the baseline is.

obesity is a chronic disease. It's a. chronic disease. It's a lifelong. disease. So we need to treat it. chronically. We need to treat it. lifelong. And this is also why we don't. call the medicines weight loss. medicines. Right? It's not about weight. loss per se. It's about maintenance. And. what the medicines do is not weight. loss. They recalibrate. They lower the. enough point so that you your body wants. to carry less weight, wants to carry. less fat. So that's exactly what. happened to you when you lost all that. weight. Your enough point came down and.

the weight followed. Now what do we want. to do? We want to maintain. We want to. maintain that new enough point. So we. want to maintain that new weight. What. would happen if we would stop it? Well, the enough point, your enough point. would go back up. And what happens when. the enough point goes back up? Guess. what? You chase it. You go right back. up. So you regain the weight. So for. most people on average, they regain the. weight. You mentioned blood pressure. Okay. So let's say you were taking a. blood pressure medication and your blood. pressure came down beautifully,

wonderful. What would happen if you. stopped taking the blood pressure. medicine? Blood pressure would go back. up and we're not surprised. It's the. same thing with these medications. So. right now what we're finding is in order. to maintain that weight reduction. In. order to maintain that weight, you have. to keep taking the medicine. In terms of. the dose, you know, we're working all. these things out. We're trying to figure. out what the best thing is in terms of. maintaining. right now. Just like for. other diseases, the medicine that worked. for you, the dose that worked for you is. likely to maintain, but there could be. some variability. >> Yeah, I tried I tried to beat this,

remember? Cuz I said, "No, I'm going to. beat it. I'm going to prove to you that. I can do it without it." And so I went. for like a year uh took myself off the. medications for a year, last year, >> and I gained 15 pounds. >> And then I said, "Your enough point went. back up. >> Am I my enough point?" I And I was doing. all the things. I was still trying to. maintain the same amount because I was. like, I'm gonna prove her wrong. Uh, I'm. gonna I was doing all the same things. I. was working out and I was like, "Okay, so I'm walking 3.5 miles a day. Now I.

just need to walk. I'm going to add to. five miles a day. Then I'm going to add. to six miles a day. Great. Great. Now. I'm going to not eat need eat just one. meal a day. I'm going to eat one smaller. meal a day." And and I and I put the. weight biology is like, "Uh-uh. I'm not. listening to that. I'm gonna. >> And I stopped myself before I said, "I. see where you going, girl. I see where. you going. >> You heading back to 211. You're heading. back there. >> You can't will power that biology away. You just can't. It's just It's just so. powerful. It's just so powerful.

>> Yeah. And I was able to keep the weight. for like a few months and I was like, "No, Dr. Ana, I'm doing really good.". And she'd check in and say, "How are you. doing? How you doing?" I'm doing really. good. And I was like, "Well, I gained. three pounds this week and then now I. gained two pounds this week." So I. tried. I tried. Yeah. and I put myself. back on in August. >> And then to to to to your second point, the long-term side effects. So, uh these. medications GLP-1 receptor agonists and. and GLP-1 GIP receptor GLP-1 receptor. agonist have been used for the treatment.

of diabetes for 20 years. So, we've been. monitoring for side effects for. long-term side effects for 20 years. Can. I say we know what's going to happen. after 30, 40, 50 years? No. With. millions of people taking medicines, will everything always be good? No. There's nothing in life that is all. good. So, we have to keep on monitoring. and looking for things, but right now. we're not seeing any long-term. detrimental side effects. Now, there are. things that come up. In terms of the. most common side effects of these. medications, they are gastrointestinal.

Um, so nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and and sometimes vomiting. Those are. the most common. But the best way that. we can not have those side effects or at. least mitigate those side effects, lessen them, we mentioned before, which. is to start at the lowest dose and go up. very very slowly. We have to start at. the lowest dose. So for you, so your. body gets used to it. Your body gets. used to it. And that also means that. let's say you were going to pause, right, for any reason or stop them for.

any reason um because of shortage or. cost or anything else. If you if you. pause or stop them for any reason at any. time, you have to start back at the. lower doses. >> More than two weeks, right? >> It and it depends on the medicine, but. yes, two to three weeks. Um because. because of the. >> I stopped for a year and then. >> you got to start at the lowest dose. You. got to start back at the lowest dose. again because otherwise if you go up too. quickly, you're more likely to have. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation. So start low and go slow. is really the best way to go. And that.

takes communication with your provider. and your provider should know that. There are also things that that that. patients can do to help mitigate those. side effects. So, they're they're fairly. simple. So, it's not eating past the. point of fullness, watching out for. which foods may exacerbate your. symptoms. So, for a lot of people, it's. fatty foods. And then the last one is. eating smaller but more frequent meals. So, those three things really help in. terms of mitigating side effects like. nausea. Additionally, drinking enough. water really helps. If we're dehydrated, one, our kidneys are not happy, and two,

it can actually make nausea worse. And. then the fifth thing that I think is so. so so critical is if you're having side. effects, tell your provider. They're. there to help you. They're there to work. with you and they're going to figure it. out. They're going to say, "Maybe you. need a lower dose for a little bit. longer and then we'll go up. Maybe we. can try this, you know, another way of. eating for a little while and that will. help you." So, they're there to help you. with those side effects. I'd say if. you're on the medications, and listen, I'm not just trying to promote your. book. Uh, but if you're on the.

medications, this book is really going. to help you. If you're thinking about. the medications, this book is really. going to help you because I have found. that a lot of the providers, they're just getting used to the. medications themselves. They really. don't know how to advise people. That's. what I've discovered. And and what I'll. say is, you know, when I went to medical. school, it was the late 1990s. We didn't. have one lecture about obesity. Uh these. medicines didn't exist and we didn't. know about the biology of obesity. Leptin had just been discovered, the the.

hormone that your fat makes that. communicates with the brain. So, we. didn't have that education. So, in a. way, we're playing catchup. We're. playing catchup to educate ourselves to. then be able to help our patients. And. again, these highly effective. medications have brought this on. Right. now we have an effective safe way to. treat um obesity and and we have to. >> obesity and the 200 other. >> other obesity related diseases. Absolutely. >> Absolutely. All right, Patricia, you had. a question. >> Yes. >> So when I saw you hold up that book.

called Enough, I immediately thought of. you saying to all of us all these years, you are enough. >> So thank you for that. >> Um I'm going to be 48 this month and. I've spent 30 of those years on a diet. I started on Weight Watchers when I was. 16 and I got to the point where I just. didn't think anything was going to help. Pmenopause, COVID, etc., etc. >> And to be very honest, I was aware of. these medications, but I was afraid to. take them. Very skeptical. I really. didn't think they would work.

>> Yeah. >> And then I heard Miss Winfrey was taking. them and they were working and I. thought, "Okay, well, maybe I could be. brave.". >> Call me Oprah. Actually, >> thank you, Oprah. So, when I heard Oprah was taking them, I thought, "Okay, I I can be brave and I. can try this." And much like Elizabeth, um I had terrific success. I've lost 60. pounds. And more importantly, my. cholesterol also went down by 60 pounds. And being a person who was diagnosed. with high cholesterol at the age of 11, that was remarkable.

>> Wow. More importantly to me, I am built. with the genetics of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure. They're all loaded in. >> Yes. >> my genetics. Yes. >> And so I've been fighting that my whole. life. >> So what I'm most curious to ask you is, do you think that these medications can. prevent obesity? >> Yeah, that is an amazing and incredibly. forwardthinking question. Um, we are not. there yet. We're not there yet.

Hopefully within our lifetime. Um, I'm. about your age, so hopefully within our. lifetime that will happen. Right now, we. have tested the medications in people. who have obesity and who have overweight. with all of these different things that. you're you're mentioning, high blood. pressure, high cholesterol, all those. things that you're predisposed to. genetically. We don't know whether they're safe yet. in people to prevent that obesity. I. think you know going forward we may look. at that but right now we don't know and.

this actually brings up a really. important point. These are medicines so. there's a risk versus benefit ratio that. we have to think about. There are side. effects like we talked about and so. these are not weight loss drugs. They're. not quick fixes. These are medications. And so we always have to think about the. risk versus benefit. We know right now. the benefit of treating um patients with. obesity to prevent all of these obesity. related diseases is clear. There are. many studies coming out about heart.

disease, about preventing diabetes, about um treating knee osteoarthritis, about obstructive sleep apnea. All these. things are coming out. Um we do not yet. have studies to look at obesity. prevention. but in people who have a. genetic a high genetic predisposition. like we've heard from you from. Elizabeth. Um those are things that I. think we'll look at in the future. Great. question. >> Great question. Yeah. >> So the reason why I'm doing this even. though I know I'm going to get a lot of. hateration for it is because I just.

believe that these medications should be. accessible to everybody. >> I agree. >> I see how much they have changed my. life. I have been in the struggle for a. very long time. All of you who've. watched me over the years know what that. struggle has looked like. Up and down. and yo-yoing and yo-yoing and yo-yoing, feeling bad about myself, feeling shame, all that. And I just want everybody else. to be released from that. >> And to be released as young as possible, I think of all the years and time I. wasted. >> Yes. I waste it feeling embarrassed,

feeling ashamed, feeling like um even. though I am Oprah and all that that. means and it's a pretty good thing. I. will say that. But walking into a store. >> Yeah. >> and sensing that thing when the people. just say, "May I show you the handbags? May I show you the gloves? May I show. you the shoes?" you know, uh, feeling. like you don't belong in this store.

because you know that there's not one. single thing in here that's going to. going to fit you. So, no amount of. money, no amount of success, no amount. of fame can can can change that. So, I. am grateful that the medications have. arrived in my lifetime. And I think. about all the people who I I I've known. who could have benefited from them. You. know what I think about a lot? I. actually think a lot about Luther. Vandross. And those of you who know. Luther know that he had the same. struggle up and down, up and down, up. and down. And the other day I was. listening to Luther and I was thinking,

"Wow, Luther, if you you just hung in. there, you would have you would have. been able to. >> be around when this came and I know that. he would have benefited so much from. it." So, what do you what do you hope. people take away from enough the book? >> Yeah, I mean, this book is about. compassion. It is about hope. It is. about biology, understanding and. freedom. And bottom line is obesity is. not your fault. It is not a choice.

It is not about willpower. It is about biology. And it is a disease. and it's a treatable disease. And now we. have effective it's now treatable. And. now we have these highly effective safe. medications that can treat obesity. and. in so doing treat over 200 obesity. related diseases. So what that means is. that by treating this one disease one. patient at a time we can transform the.

health and lives of millions of people. We can transform the health of our. nation and of the world. And I do think. that that's enough. >> Oh that is good. good button there. Thank you all for sharing your stories. Uh Julius, thank you for being so open, so vulnerable. I think a lot of people.

are going to remember that story and. think about how you have used weight in. your life to hold you back from being. the most that you could be, from serving. the best you could serve, for showing up. the way you needed to show up. Thank you. so much for being. >> open enough to do that. >> And. >> yeah, >> and I want to thank Oprah. >> Yes. >> Because she's been the most vulnerable. She's been the most shamed, the most.

blamed for something that has never been. her fault. And she has turned her pain, her silent pain into something so. wonderful for all of us. So, I thank you. I thank you. >> Well, this is what's amazing to me. Thank you for saying that. But I I live. with the philosophy that everything is. better when you share it. >> Everything is better when you share it. And I've had that philosophy since I was.

living on a dirt road in Mississippi and. we only got candy once a year. I would. hold on to my candy till my cousins came. because it's a lot better to say, "Ain't. this good?" than to than to then than to. eat it all by yourself. And so once I. discovered this and I I I remember doing. a show many years ago uh talking about. weight and gaining weight, lose weight, and I said, "Y'all, if they ever invent. a pill, if there's ever a cure, I'll be. shouting from the mountain tops, I'll be. telling everybody." So I'm now telling. everybody,

telling everybody. about enough. Thank you, Dr. Ana Yaser. Thank you. Her book, Enough, Your. Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like. to Be Free is available now wherever. books are sold. A big thank you again to. Serena WILLIAMS. and all of our guests. See you next. week. Go well, everybody. You can subscribe to The Over Podcast on.

YouTube and follow us on Spotify, Apple. Podcasts, or wherever you listen. I'll. see you next week. Thanks everybody.