NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:Oprah Winfrey says she's stepping down from WeightWatchers. Its shares are cratering.

Oprah Winfrey's interview shines spotlight on weight-loss drugs

Oprah Winfrey said she's stepping down from her role at WeightWatchers after serving on its board of directors for nine years. She also pledged to donate her financial stake in the weight-loss company to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Winfrey's announcement, issued late Wednesday, sent shares of WeightWatchers into a tailspin. The company's stock, which in 2021 topped $40, plunged 17% on Thursday to $3.18 in early morning trading.

Winfrey joining WeightWatchers in 2015 gave the weight-loss company a high-profile boost, with its shares more than doubling soon after the deal was announced. But in recent years, WeightWatchers and other diet companies have struggled amid a shift toward so-called GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, which rely on hormones to control appetite and have helped people shed extra pounds. 

The weight loss company, which was founded in the early 1960s, has seen its financial results deteriorate in recent years. Its revenue in 2023 tumbled almost 15% to $889.6 million from the previous year, while it lost $112 million.

Winfrey owns about 1.4% of the company's shares, or about 1.3 million shares, according to financial data provider FactSet. At today's stock price, that values her stake at about $4.1 million — a far cry from her initial investment of $43.2 million for 6.4 million shares.

The media star's decision comes after she disclosed last year that she relies on these drugs to maintain her weight. Winfrey told People magazine in December that she "released my own shame about it" and went to a doctor to get a prescription, although she didn't disclose the name of the medication she relies on. Winfrey added, "I now use it as I feel I need it, as a tool to manage not yo-yoing."

WeightWatchers, officially named WW International, last year moved into the prescription weight-loss drug business by purchasing Sequence, a telehealth provider that offers users access to GLP-1 drugs. It also debuted WeightWatchers GLP-1, a subscription program for people using that class of drugs. 

In her statement, Winfrey said she will continue "to advise and collaborate with WeightWatchers and CEO Sima Sistani in elevating the conversation around recognizing obesity as a chronic condition, working to reduce stigma and advocating for health equity."

Winfrey said she's donating her shares in WeightWatchers to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a Smithsonian institution in Washington, D.C., as she's been a long-time supporter of the organization. 

In the statement, WeightWatchers said Winfrey's decision to donate her shares is partly "to eliminate any perceived conflict of interest around her taking weight loss medications."

In:
• Oprah Winfrey
• Weight Watchers

Aimee Picchi

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.

Twitter