The tennis legend’s candid revelation about weight loss medication challenges conventional wisdom about elite athletes and wellness
At 44, Serena Williams stands as one of tennis’s most decorated champions, with 23 Grand Slam titles adorning her legacy. Yet behind the trophies and Olympic gold medals lay a struggle few knew about—one that traditional training methods couldn’t solve.
A year into using weight loss medication, Williams describes herself as healthier than ever, challenging assumptions about what it means to be an elite athlete and opening conversations about health challenges facing Black women in America.
The Champion’s Hidden Battle
Throughout her career, Williams confronted an opponent more persistent than any rival across the net: stubborn weight that refused to budge despite rigorous exercise and careful nutrition. The champion who dominated courts worldwide found herself unable to overcome this particular challenge through willpower alone.
Her concern extended beyond aesthetics. Diabetes loomed as a genuine threat, particularly significant given its disproportionate impact on Black communities. Williams told NBC News that despite countless steps and miles run, some obstacles remain insurmountable through conventional means—a reality many women face as they age.
A Modern Solution for Serena
Last August, Williams began taking a GLP-1 receptor agonist, medications that suppress appetite by mimicking naturally occurring gut hormones. The announcement accompanied her partnership with Ro, a telehealth company specializing in these prescriptions. Her husband, Alexis Ohanian, holds an investment stake in the company, intertwining personal health decisions with professional relationships.
The results proved transformative. Over twelve months, Williams shed approximately 34 pounds. Clinical trials suggest medications like Wegovy can produce average weight reductions of 15 percent of body weight, though individual outcomes vary considerably.
Cardiovascular Victory
Perhaps more significant than the numbers on the scale were Williams’s internal health metrics. Her cholesterol plummeted 30 percent, dropping from 185 mg/dL to 129 mg/dL—comfortably below the recommended 150 mg/dL threshold doctors advocate for optimal health.
This shift carried profound implications. Williams acknowledged she faced heart disease risk without realizing it, describing the revelation as frightening. Cardiovascular disease remains America’s leading killer, and Black adults die from these conditions at rates 54 percent higher than white Americans—a disparity Williams’s experience brings into sharp focus.
Physical Relief Beyond the Numbers
The weight reduction delivered unexpected benefits for Williams’s joints, particularly her knees—vulnerable points throughout her tennis career. She suggested that knee troubles might have compromised her performance during her playing days, raising intriguing questions about how her legacy might have differed with earlier intervention.
This physical relief represents more than comfort; it symbolizes freedom from the accumulated toll of decades spent pushing her body to extraordinary limits.
What Comes Next
When questioned about returning to professional tennis, Williams offered an enigmatic response, neither confirming nor denying the possibility. She’ll simply see what happens—a statement that leaves fans simultaneously hopeful and respectful of her current priorities centered on wellness and family.
A Broader Message
Williams’s openness about her health journey transcends celebrity confessional. It illuminates struggles facing countless Black women navigating health challenges compounded by systemic disparities. Her willingness to discuss medical intervention for weight management—still stigmatized in many circles—provides cover for others facing similar decisions.
The tennis icon has transformed once again, this time from athlete to advocate, using her platform to raise awareness about cardiovascular risks and modern medical options. Her story reminds us that health journeys remain deeply personal, requiring professional guidance tailored to individual circumstances.
For a champion accustomed to conquering opponents through determination alone, Williams’s embrace of pharmaceutical assistance demonstrates a different kind of strength: the wisdom to accept help when needed and the courage to share that choice publicly.
