12 June 2024 , 13:09
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Oprah Winfrey sparked concern from fans over her recent hospitalisation after the TV icon’s huge weight loss.
The 70-year-old media mogul unveiled her staggering weight loss late last year, and while she refused to comment on speculation surrounding her transformation, Oprah later confessed to taking weight loss medication to help her. While she failed to specify which one she had been taking, she confirmed it was a medication that is usually prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients, as it helps to regulate insulin levels in the body.
One of the side effects of the medication is weight loss, and many Hollywood stars are turning to diabetes drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy to help them with weight loss. Oprah heaped praise on the medication - despite having to step down from her role on the Weight Watchers board - and in an interview with People, said the weight loss drugs were a “gift”. She gushed: “The fact that there’s a medically approved prescription for managing weight and staying healthier, in my lifetime, feels like relief, like redemption, like a gift.”
READ MORE: Oprah Winfrey hospitalised over 'very serious thing,' pal Gayle King confirms
Oprah stunned fans with her dramatic transformation last year (Getty Images)
She later confessed her weight loss was due to medication (Getty Images for GLAAD)However, fans were concerned when it emerged on Tuesday that the iconic broadcaster had been rushed to hospital with a serious stomach virus, and had cancelled TV appearances. Her longtime pal and CBS News anchor Gayle King told viewers that Oprah would not be on CBS Mornings as she “had some kind of stomach thing – stomach flu – stuff was coming out of both ends.” Gayle added: “I won’t get too graphic. Needless to say, she ended up in the hospital, dehydration, had to get an IV. It was a very serious thing.”
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Fans took to social media to share their worries about Oprah’s health, and pointed out that one of the side effects of medication such as Ozempic is stomach issues. “Oprah Winfrey is on a weight loss drug like Ozempic. It suppresses the appetite. It can also suppress the immune system leading to sickness. People on Ozempic often do not watch their calorie intake. They can end up malnourished and with stomach problems,” one tweeted. Another agreed: “Stomach paralysis is a side effect of Ozempic.”
Gayle King confirmed her pal's hospitalisation (Getty Images for The Recording Academy)According to WebMd.com, some of the side effects of drugs like Ozempic include vomiting and diarrhoea, and they advise anyone suffering from serious stomach or abdominal pain to seek medical attention immediately. In October last year, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that taking diabetes medication for weight loss could lead to “severe” gastrointestinal issues, including biliary disease, gastroparesis, pancreatitis or bowel obstructions.