Tejal Somvanshi
Tennis legend Serena Williams has revealed she lost 31 pounds with the help of a GLP-1 weight-loss medication, addressing her struggle with postpartum weight retention after having two daughters.
The 43-year-old champion shared her experience during an exclusive interview with TODAY and PEOPLE magazine, framing her decision as a medical support measure after exhausting traditional methods. Williams, now a paid spokesperson for telehealth company Ro, began taking weekly injections in early 2024 after she stopped breastfeeding her second daughter, Adira.
“I feel great. I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally,” Williams told PEOPLE. Her weight struggles began after giving birth to her first daughter, Olympia, in 2017, and intensified following the birth of Adira in August 2023.
Despite her athletic background and disciplined approach to fitness, Williams found conventional methods ineffective. “I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained,” she explained. “It was crazy because I’d never been in a place like that in my life where I worked so hard, ate so healthy and could never get down to where I needed to be at.”
Williams hasn’t disclosed which specific GLP‑1 medication she’s taking. These drugs include brands like Ozempic and Wegovy (semaglutide, GLP‑1) and Mounjaro and Zepbound (tirzepatide, dual GLP‑1/GIP), which help reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and slow stomach emptying.
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Her decision to use medication wasn’t made lightly. “I did a lot of research on it. I was like, ‘is this a shortcut? What are the benefits? What are not the benefits?’ I really wanted to dive into it before I just did it,” she said. Williams has emphasized that the medication enhances her existing healthy habits rather than replacing them.
Since losing weight, Williams reports significant health improvements beyond the scale. “I just can do more. I’m more active. My joints don’t hurt as much,” she shared. A recent doctor’s visit also confirmed improved blood sugar levels, and she mentions she hasn’t experienced side effects from the medication.
Williams is using her platform to destigmatize GLP-1 medications, challenging the perception that they represent an “easy way out.” While discussing her decision to speak publicly, she stressed, “GLP-1 helped me enhance everything that I was already doing — eating healthy and working out.”
Health experts note that GLP-1 medications are typically prescribed for chronic weight management or diabetes, with lifestyle changes in diet and exercise recommended alongside the medication. These drugs have become increasingly popular but can come with side effects like nausea and vomiting in some patients.
Williams continues her active lifestyle, currently training for a half marathon and regularly posting gym workouts. She maintains that loving yourself at any size is important, noting, “Weight loss should never really change your self-image.”
