{"id":166116,"date":"2025-08-22T09:18:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T09:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/166116\/"},"modified":"2025-08-22T09:18:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T09:18:18","slug":"serena-williams-opens-up-about-her-weight-loss-journey-on-a-glp-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/166116\/","title":{"rendered":"Serena Williams opens up about her weight-loss journey on a GLP-1"},"content":{"rendered":"

With 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, Serena Williams<\/a> is undeniably a superathlete. But the 43-year-old will be the first to admit that she isn\u2019t superhuman. <\/p>\n

After the birth of her first child\u2014daughter Olympia in 2017, during which Serena experienced life-threatening complications\u2014she struggled to get back to what she considered a healthy weight for her. Fans got a small glimpse into this side of the tennis star\u2019s journey in her 2018 HBO documentary Becoming Serena.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point my coach says, \u2018You need to lose weight,\u2019\u201d Serena tells Women\u2019s Health. \u201cI was eating extremely healthy and I was working out really hard because I know what it takes to be number-one. But I was never able to lose weight, and that was really frustrating for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

What to Read Next<\/p>\n

Serena recalls a trip to Paris, in particular, during which she routinely walked 20,000 to 30,000 steps per day<\/a>\u2014partially because she loves strolling Paris (who doesn\u2019t!?) and partially because she was trying to get fit. Yet, the scale number \u201cwould never go below where it needed to go,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"serena<\/p>\n

Sage East \/ Ro<\/p>\n

With the birth of her second child\u2014daughter Adira in 2023\u2014Serena initially lost weight quickly, but she once again plateaued. As a result of the extra weight, she was experiencing strain on her joints every time she ran down a ball. \u201cIn a sport like tennis<\/a>, you\u2019re putting hundreds of pounds of strain on your joints per movement, per time,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s when Serena came to a realisation, she says: \u201cI have to try something different.\u201d She started researching weight-loss medications, but as she more seriously contemplated taking a GLP-1, she found herself hesitant due to the stigma surrounding the drugs\u2014that they\u2019re some kind of shortcut or cop out. As a top athlete, she felt the scrutiny would be extra intense. <\/p>\n

\u201cI am a very good use case of how you can do everything\u2014eat healthy, work out to the point of even playing a professional sport and getting to the finals of Wimbledon and U.S. Opens\u2014and still not be able to lose weight,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not a shortcut. It\u2019s not a copout. This is just another tool to support my health journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Serena began a GLP-1 regimen about a year ago, once she finished breastfeeding<\/a> Adira. But her first go-around with the medication didn\u2019t quite stick. \u201cI was a bit nervous and had too many unanswered questions,\u201d she says of taking a pause.<\/p>\n

In January of this year, she started anew, this time with telehealth company Ro<\/a>. (Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is also an investor in Ro and serves on its board.) <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a lot easier of an experience with Ro,\u201d Serena says. \u201cDoctors were able to answer my questions, no matter how silly or crazy.\u201d And with her hectic travel schedule, she appreciated that support was just a click away, rather than having to schedule an in-person appointment at an office. Serena is now officially partnering with Ro as a celebrity patient ambassador (she began as just a regular client) to help bust the stigmas that might be holding others back from exploring their health options. (Serena did not disclose which specific medication she is on. Ro offers prescriptions for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound.) <\/p>\n

Seven months into treatment, Serena is seeing results beyond weight loss. The tennis star says she can finally see the effects of all her hard work at the gym<\/a>\u2014plus, her body feels less strain while training since she\u2019s carrying less weight. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy joints are a lot better,\u201d she says\u2014and that’s despite all the running she\u2019s been doing lately to prepare for an upcoming half marathon<\/a>. “I am running farther than I ever have.” <\/p>\n

Her health is benefiting too: \u201cI just had my checkup, and the doctor said everything\u2014including my blood sugar levels\u2014looked great.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"serena<\/p>\n

Sage East \/ Ro<\/p>\n

For anyone contemplating a GLP-1 who\u2019s been hesitant given the stigma that it somehow undermines personal effort, Serena assures that couldn’t be further from the truth. “Being on a GLP-1 definitely doesn\u2019t take away from who I am as a professional athlete. In fact, I am enjoying sports now more than ever. And my body feels good doing it.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI would never take a shortcut to living a healthy life,\u201d Serena says. \u201cIt’s really about using the tools available to you to support your health. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to be transparent with my story.\u201d <\/p>\n

And that\u2019s just one more reason why Serena truly is the GOAT. <\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Amy Wilkinson is a contributing entertainment editor at Women’s Health, where she edits the magazine’s celebrity cover stories and writes health features. She has previously held editor titles at Entertainment Weekly and MTV News. In 2021, Amy completed her 600-hour teacher-training at Core Pilates NYC to become a comprehensively trained Pilates instructor.<\/p>\n