Serena Willaims GLP-1 Medication
Serena Williams, one of the most dominant athletes in modern history with 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, is stepping into a new role off the tennis court: health advocate. Williams announced that she is using a GLP-1 medication through Ro, a direct-to-patient telehealth company for which she is now a paid spokesperson. By speaking openly about her experience, she hopes to destigmatize the use of these medications and spark a more honest conversation about weight, health, and medical support.
For Williams, the decision came after years of trying everything else. Following the births of her daughters Olympia in 2017 and Adira in 2023, she said her body wasn’t responding the way it once did, despite her discipline with training and diet. “I literally tried everything,” she admitted, explaining how even she initially worried it might feel like a shortcut. But after starting GLP-1 injections through Ro once she stopped breastfeeding in 2024, she came to view the treatment differently. “Even I felt like, ‘OK, I don’t want to do this because it is a shortcut or it is, like, a quick way out,’ but it actually isn’t,” she said. Over eight months, she lost more than 31 pounds and described improvements in energy, joint comfort, and mental clarity.
Her decision to go public is about more than personal progress. Williams says she wants to normalize medical intervention and push back against the stigma that GLP-1s are an “easy way out.” In a campaign video for Ro, she tells viewers: “If you’re on GLP-1s too, don’t let anybody tell you it’s the ‘easy way out.’ You’re not taking a shortcut, you’re taking care of yourself, and that takes courage.” She argues that biology, not a lack of willpower, often keeps people from reaching their goals—and that seeking medical support is a valid and necessary option.
Ro has launched a multi-year national campaign featuring Williams across television, digital, and even Times Square billboards, coinciding with the U.S. Open—a tournament Williams has won six times. The partnership is designed to spark a cultural shift, reframing weight-loss medication as legitimate healthcare rather than a symbol of weakness. By lending her voice and credibility, Williams is challenging long-held assumptions about weight, postpartum recovery, and what strength really looks like.
For decades, Williams has embodied resilience, whether dominating on the tennis court, breaking barriers in sports, or balancing motherhood and business ventures. Her openness about GLP-1 medication is the latest example of her willingness to redefine the narrative. In doing so, she sends a clear message: strength is not about going it alone—it’s about knowing when to get the right help.
