Quick Summary

Serena Williams has lost 31 pounds with the help of GLP-1 medication while continuing to prioritize diet, exercise, and body positivity. The tennis legend says the treatment has boosted her energy and improved her health while reinforcing her belief that confidence should never depend on weight.

How Serena Williams began her weight loss journey

Serena Williams, one of the most celebrated athletes in history, has opened up about her recent weight-loss transformation. In an exclusive interview, the 23-time Grand Slam champion revealed she has lost more than 31 pounds using a GLP-1 medication, a class of drugs widely known through brands like Ozempic and Mounjaro.

“I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally,” Williams said, crediting the treatment for enhancing her ongoing efforts with healthy eating and regular exercise.

Her struggles with weight began after the birth of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017. Despite intense training and strict nutrition, she found her body resistant to change postpartum. “I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be, no matter how much I trained,” she recalled.

The pattern repeated after her second daughter, Adira River, was born in 2023. Williams initially shed pounds quickly but soon plateaued, leaving her feeling frustrated.

Why she turned to GLP-1 medication

Determined to try something new, Serena Williams partnered with Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company, to explore GLP-1 treatment. These medications mimic natural hormones that influence satiety and blood sugar regulation, making patients feel fuller for longer.

After researching the risks and benefits, she began weekly injections in early 2024, shortly after finishing breastfeeding. Within months, she noticed a dramatic difference.

“They were super supportive, and it was easy to get the medication,” Williams explained. “I lost over 31 pounds using my GLP-1, and I was really excited about that weight loss.”

Now serving as a celebrity patient ambassador for Ro, Williams says she wants to normalize conversations about medical support in fitness and health.

How her life has changed since losing weight

Serena Williams says the benefits extend far beyond the scale. She now feels more energetic, her joints hurt less, and physical activity feels easier.

“I can just do more. Getting down, moving quickly, even little things feel so much easier,” she said. “I feel like I have a lot of energy, and it’s great.”

She is currently training for a half-marathon and often shares workout videos with her fans, reaffirming that medication hasn’t replaced her healthy lifestyle — it has amplified it.

Serena Williams on body positivity and motherhood

Despite the weight loss, Serena Williams insists her confidence and self-worth have remained unchanged.

“Weight loss should never really change your self-image,” she said. “Women often experience judgment about their bodies at any size, and I’m no stranger to that. I always felt comfortable at any size. But at that weight, my body didn’t feel right; I had pain in my joints and pain in different areas.”

Serena Williams also emphasizes body positivity at home. Raising her daughters with husband Alexis Ohanian, she encourages them to feel confident regardless of size.

“With me going through what I’ve gone through growing up in public and having millions of people comment on my body, it’s really important to teach them to be confident at any size,” she said. “Whether I was smaller or thicker, I always felt confident. That’s what I want them to learn.”

Why Serena’s story resonates

Williams’s transparency comes at a time when GLP-1 medications are fueling global conversations about weight loss, health, and stigma. Her approach—combining medication with fitness, nutrition, and self-love—reflects a balanced narrative in a debate often polarized between “shortcut” criticism and life-changing benefits.

“GLP-1 helped me enhance everything that I was already doing,” she said. “It’s not a shortcut. It’s just another tool to get healthier.”