Oprah Winfrey will step down from the board of WeightWatchers after nearly a decade due to her disclosure of using a weight-loss medication. Winfrey notified the corporation this week that she has chosen not to seek reelection at the annual shareholders’ meeting in May 2024. She has been a member of the company’s board since 2015 when she purchased a 10% share of WeightWatchers.
In December 2023, Winfrey informed people that she had chosen to begin using a weight-loss drug after realizing that weight control is not simply dependent on an individual’s self-discipline. She expressed to people that having a medically approved prescription for weight management and wellness in her lifetime felt like a relief, a redemption, and a blessing, rather than something to hide behind and be mocked for.
Winfrey’s contract with WeightWatchers states that she is not allowed to participate in any other weight reduction or weight management business, program, products, or services during her partnership with the company and for one year following, as reported in the company’s SEC filings.
Following the announcement of Winfrey’s departure from the board of WeightWatchers, shares of WW International dropped by almost 20% on Friday. Her leaving will decrease the company’s board from 10 members to nine. Oprah Winfrey informed Weight Watchers on February 26 that she will not seek re-election as a board member at the company’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, according to an SEC filing on Thursday.
The corporation stated that her choice was not due to any disagreement with the company regarding its operations, rules, or practices. In May 2024, Winfrey and WeightWatchers will organize an event focused on weight wellness, with industry professionals aiming to improve our relationship with weight without shame. Oprah Winfrey emphasized the importance of addressing weight health on a larger scale in her remarks.
“I intend to engage in various public forums and events where I will actively promote and progress this discussion.”
WeightWatchers purchased Sequence, a telehealth subscription service that offers access to healthcare specialists who can prescribe weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, for $106 million last year.
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