Oprah Winfrey Gets Real About ‘Weight Loss Gummies’ and ‘Diet Pills’ in New Video
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."
Oprah Winfrey warns fans against weight loss gummies that use her name or image on marketing materials.
Winfrey revealed in an Instagram video that she does not endorse weight loss gummies and that the brand is using her name and image without permission.
“I have nothing to do with weight loss gummies or diet pills. And I don’t want you all taken advantage of by people misusing my name,” Winfrey said.
Whenever Oprah Winfrey drops her favorite things, we add them to our carts ASAP. Whether it’s her favorite Carroll Kelsey crossbody bag, the perfect pants, her go-to intimate wash from Barbara Sturm, or her favorite sneakers, the 68-year-old proudly gets behind products she uses and loves. But in a recent Instagram video, the talk show host spoke up about certain weight loss gummies that claim to have her coveted endorsement when they do not.
Winfrey took to her Instagram account over the weekend to expose the supplement company that has been using her image and name in an attempt to sell the supplements—without her permission. In the video, Winfrey spoke directly into the camera to explain the situation to her followers.
“A woman came up to me and said, ‘can you help me get your weight loss gummies?’ And I said, ‘Ma’am, I don’t have anything to do with weight loss gummies. And let me just tell you, you’re the fifth person this week to mention it, so I’m going to address it,’” Winfrey said into the camera.
She continued, “So this is my attempt to address it. It’s come to my attention many times over, somebody is out there, misusing my name, even sending emails to people advertising weight loss gummies. I have nothing to do with weight loss gummies or diet pills. And I don’t want you all taken advantage of by people misusing my name. So please know I have no weight loss gummies.”
And it’s more than just clearing her name that Winfrey is concerned about. The talk show host warned followers in the caption to beware of giving out their personal information to the fraudulent supplement company.
“Fraud alert! Please don’t buy any weight loss gummies with my picture or name on them,” she captioned the video. “There have been social media ads, emails, and fake websites going out, and I want you to hear it straight from me that I have nothing to do with them. Please don’t be taken advantage of and don’t give your personal information to them.”
Winfrey has previously credited her weight loss to the lifestyle changes she made following WW. Before dropping 42 lbs. on the program, she was pre-diabetic and dealt with blood pressure issues.
But why are diet pills and gummies something Winfrey wants nothing to do with? Weight loss pills and gummies that say they help shed pounds don’t have a ton of research to back up these claims—and there’s very little regulation of supplements by the FDA.
“There is absolutely no conclusive scientific evidence to support the use of weight loss gummies to promote weight loss,” says adds Keri Gans, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., nutrition consultant and author of The Small Change Diet. “Unfortunately, these types of supplements are not regulated the same by the FDA as they do with drugs, and therefore the potential for harm is greater.”
So we can totally see why Winfrey took to Instagram to address the issue with her fans directly. As Oprah warns, stay vigilant and be weary of claims. We’ll keep shopping Winfrey’s real favorites in the meantime!
Important disclaimer: Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing and be sure to consult your doctor before taking new supplements (or providing them to a family member) in any situation, as they can interfere with medication.
You Might Also Like
