Oprah Winfrey has opened up about a key side effect she experienced while using a GLP-1 weight-loss drug, sharing insights from her personal journey with the popular medication.
During a live interview on TODAY with Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones on Tuesday, Jan. 13, Winfrey revealed that, unlike many users, she did not experience nausea or diarrhea—common gastrointestinal issues associated with GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound. Instead, she faced constipation.
“I finally figured out, for me, what the right combination of magnesium and water is. I have to drink a lot of water… I have to have a gallon of water a day,” Winfrey explained. She added that all the water must be consumed before 4 p.m., or it disrupts her sleep.
Medical experts note that adequate hydration helps soften stool and move food through the intestines, easing constipation. Magnesium citrate, another component of Winfrey’s regimen, works by retaining water in the stool, making it easier to pass and increasing bowel movement frequency, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Winfrey details her experience with GLP-1 drugs in her new book, Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like to Be Free, where she chronicles her path to sustainable weight loss.
“Oprah’s kidneys are very, very happy,” said Dr. Ania Jastreboff, endocrinologist, Yale associate professor, and Winfrey’s co-author. She emphasized that all medications carry potential side effects, and patients must weigh risks against benefits.
Jastreboff also offered guidance for reducing common GLP-1 side effects, such as nausea. Key strategies include slow dose escalation, monitoring which foods trigger discomfort, avoiding overeating, and staying well-hydrated. “Start low, go slow. If you’re feeling nauseated, then don’t increase the dose,” she advised, underscoring the importance of individualized care when using these medications.
