Serena Williams Serves an Ace Against Weight Stigma, but is it a Double Fault?
Another day, another celebrity hops on the GLP-1 train. This time, it’s none other than the tennis G.O.A.T. herself, Serena Williams. The 23-time Grand Slam champion just revealed she’s been using a weight-loss medication to shed the pounds she struggled with after the births of her two daughters. And honestly? Good for her.
Let’s be real, Williams has spent her entire career under a microscope. Her body, her power, her every grunt on the court has been scrutinized and debated by people who couldn’t return one of her serves if their life depended on it. So, when a world-class athlete—someone whose entire profession is built on peak physical conditioning—says she can’t lose weight through diet and exercise alone, it’s time to listen up. It’s a powerful message that tells the rest of us mortals that sometimes, biology just doesn’t play fair.
Still, you can almost hear the collective groan from the “just eat less and move more” crowd. The narrative that these medications are the “easy way out” is a tired one, yet it persists. But Williams is here to shut that down, partnering with telehealth company Ro to normalize the conversation. As she put it, “I don’t take shortcuts.” For her, this isn’t a magic pill; it’s a tool that supports the grueling work she’s already doing.
Williams’ Post-Pregnancy Weight Woes
For most people, having a baby is a monumental life change. For a professional athlete at the top of their game, it’s that and then some. After giving birth to her first daughter, Olympia, in 2017, Williams found herself in a frustrating battle with the scale. Despite playing a professional sport—a detail that feels almost absurd to have to point out—she hit a plateau she couldn’t break.
“I literally was playing a professional sport, and I could never go back to where I needed to be,” she said. It’s a surprisingly relatable struggle. Imagine the sheer frustration of being one of the greatest athletes in history and still feeling like your body won’t cooperate. The situation didn’t get any easier after her second daughter, Adira, was born in 2023, by which point Williams had retired from her legendary 27-year career.
A Calculated Move, Not a Shortcut
Faced with stubborn weight, nagging knee pain, and a family history of diabetes, Williams decided to explore her options. She did her research on GLP-1 medications—the class of drugs that includes big names like Ozempic and Wegovy—and started weekly injections in early 2024 through Ro. Conveniently, her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is an investor and board member at the company. A savvy business move? Absolutely. Does it negate her personal health journey? Not at all.
Since starting the medication, Serena has lost 31 pounds and feels “light physically and light mentally.” It’s a classic win-win: she gets the health support she needs, and Ro gets one of the most respected athletes on the planet as its spokesperson. You can’t even be mad at that level of strategic planning.
The Bigger Picture: Self-Love and Setting an Example
What’s truly great about Serena‘ announcement is her focus on the “why.” This isn’t just about a number on a scale. She’s doing this for her health, to alleviate joint pain, and to be the active mom she wants to be. She’s also been incredibly candid about body image, emphasizing that self-love should be unconditional. “You should love yourself at any size,” she stated, making it clear she wants her daughters to grow up with unshakable confidence.
So, while the internet will undoubtedly buzz with hot takes and armchair doctor diagnoses, Serena Williams is doing what she’s always done: playing her own game, on her own terms. She’s using her platform to challenge stigmas and prove that seeking medical help for weight management is no different than getting physio for a torn ligament. It’s just another tool in the arsenal of a champion who’s still winning, long after leaving the court.
