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Serena Williams opens up about her 31-pound post-pregnancy weight loss journey using GLP-1 medication, breaking stigma around weight-loss treatments.
Serena Williams gets candid on her health journey—losing 31 pounds with GLP-1 support after years of post-pregnancy struggles.
Serena Williams has revealed for the first time that she has been using a GLP-1 medication to support her recent weight loss journey. In an exclusive conversation with TODAY, the 23-time Grand Slam champion shared that she made the decision to begin treatment after the birth of her second daughter, in connection with her partnership with health care company Ro, where she serves as a paid ambassador.
Williams explained that she has dropped 31 pounds over the past year while on the medication, though she chose not to specify which version of the drug she is taking. “I used it inconsistently at first, but now I’m fully committed,” she said. “It was absolutely the right move for me. I had exhausted every other option.”
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She described years of frustration following her first pregnancy, noting that no matter how much she trained even while competing professionally, she struggled to return to her pre-pregnancy health benchmarks. After welcoming her second child, she found it even more difficult, despite trying everything from veganism to vegetarianism. That’s when she realized she needed a different approach.
Since starting treatment, Williams says her health has significantly improved. At her most recent checkup, her doctor reported better blood sugar readings, and she has noticed her joints, particularly her knees, feel far less strained. “My weight challenges definitely impacted my performance late in my career,” she reflected.
While many people experience side effects with GLP-1 medications, Williams said she hasn’t had any. “My body has endured so much over the years. I know the risks, but I’ve been fortunate,” she shared. She also emphasized her family’s history of diabetes as a motivating factor. “African Americans are at higher risk, and it runs in my family. I wanted to be proactive.”
Through her multi-year campaign with Ro, Williams hopes to break down misconceptions about weight-loss medications. “People think it’s an easy way out,” she said. “But I can tell you, as someone who has spent decades training, dieting, and doing everything possible, this was never about shortcuts. It was about health.”
She acknowledged struggling with stigma herself. “I felt the judgment. I believed some of it too. But Ro gave me a safe place to ask questions and move forward without shame.”
Looking ahead, Williams said she expects to remain on the medication. “After pregnancy, it felt like something in my body was missing. I can’t explain it, but with this, I feel balanced again.”
Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, are raising two daughters: Olympia, 7, and Adira, 2. (Ohanian is both an investor in Ro and a member of its board of directors.)
GLP-1 agonists mimic a natural hormone released after meals, which helps regulate appetite, increases satiety, slows digestion, and prompts insulin secretion. Beyond weight management, they are FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Typically, they are prescribed for obesity or diabetes alongside changes to nutrition and exercise habits.
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Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More
Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More
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