As demand for weight-loss injections sold under brand names such as Ozempic and Wegovy continues to soar, a study has uncovered neurological and behavioral health benefits amid risks for pancreatitis and kidney disease.

The media queen also confessed that she was reluctant to take a GLP-1 drug because she felt it was “the easy way out.” That changed after a special on weight loss with experts and clinicians that she taped in July 2023. The panel discussion left her with her “biggest aha moment” about the medication.

About 140,400 obese patients in Massachusetts were prescribed medications like Wegovy and Zepbound in 2024, a 255 percent increase from 2023, according to a Globe analysis of insurance claims data.

The findings, based on an analysis of records from 2.5 million VA patients, support much of what scientists already suspected but contain surprises, too.

"All these years I thought that thin people -- those people -- just had more willpower," Winfrey said on her podcast.

Oprah Winfrey shared that weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy helped her understand the challenges of being thin. After losing nearly 50 pounds, she emphasized that these drugs assist in managing cravings and support a healthier lifestyle amidst her struggles with weight.