Did Serena Williams lose weight because of diet pills? GLP-1 drugs: a shortcut or salvation?

When 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams reappeared in public with a noticeably slimmer figure, many were surprised. Even more striking was her candid confession: over the past year, she lost 14 kilograms using GLP-1 medication and openly shared her challenging yet breakthrough health journey.

This tennis legend, once hailed as a "symbol of strength," is now redefining victory in a different way—not just as a champion on the court, but as a woman reclaiming herself amid postpartum health struggles.

Serena’s weight loss journey was far from smooth. She admitted trying vegan, vegetarian, and high-protein diets, even walking 20,000 steps daily, but with limited results. The weight issues became especially difficult after giving birth to her second daughter.“I was a professional athlete, and I can no longer return to the healthy state I need,” she said. This revelation highlights that even top athletes face similar physical challenges as ordinary women after childbirth, including metabolic changes, hormonal fluctuations, and reduced fitness.

The GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) Serena chose have gained attention recently. These medications mimic hormones produced after eating to reduce appetite, increase satiety, and slow stomach emptying. Besides being approved for diabetes treatment, they have become key tools in obesity management.

What sets Serena apart is her honesty: she clearly stated this was part of a collaboration with the healthcare company Ro, where she is a paid spokesperson. Such transparency is rare among celebrity endorsements and adds fairness to the discussion.

For Serena, losing weight was more than just a change in appearance. She revealed that her latest medical checkup showed normal blood sugar levels and significantly reduced joint stress.“My knees had many problems... especially after having children, my weight never returned to normal. Honestly, this definitely affected my career or some of the victories I could have achieved.” This confession is surprising, showing that postpartum health issues continue to impact her reflections on her career even after retirement.

Serena’s experience exposes a frequently overlooked issue in professional sports: the severe lack of postpartum health support for female athletes.As someone who once endured the intensity of Grand Slam finals, she found that “no matter what I do—running, walking for hours—I can’t get back to my ideal state.” This feeling of helplessness contrasts sharply with her athlete identity, highlighting the complexity of postpartum bodily changes.

Serena emphasized that taking GLP-1 drugs was a personal choice: “Do I want to choose health? What do I want to do?” This question goes beyond a simple medical decision, touching on every woman’s autonomy in her health journey.She also reported no obvious side effects from the medication: “I put my body through a lot... I know there are many side effects, but I didn’t experience any.” This individual difference reminds us that any medical intervention requires personalized evaluation.

The importance of Serena sharing her weight loss story lies not in the method she chose, but in her openness about the complex reasons behind that choice.In an era flooded with extreme diets and rapid weight-loss plans on social media, Serena offers a more balanced perspective: she tried traditional approaches (diet and exercise) and also opted for medically guided drug intervention. This approach breaks the black-and-white narrative of health management.

Her experience sends a message to everyone: there is no standard answer to health, only choices that suit the individual. Whether on the tennis court or managing personal health, true victory comes not from following others’ rules but from finding and bravely following your own path.

When Serena says, “I feel like myself again,” the normal she defines is not the ability to return to competition, but regaining control over her own body. This victory may be even more precious than any of her Grand Slam titles.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Mei)