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Serena Williams is opening up about the key to her weight-loss success, sharing that she feels healthier, lighter and more energized than she has in years.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion, 43, revealed exclusively to PEOPLE that she has been using a GLP-1 medication as part of her wellness journey, leading to a 31-pound weight loss. Williams explained that while she has always maintained a disciplined lifestyle through healthy eating and rigorous training, her body struggled to return to her preferred weight after giving birth to daughters Olympia in 2017 and Adira in 2023.
"I never was able to get to the weight I needed no matter how hard I worked, or how clean I ate. It was crazy, because I had never experienced anything like that in my career," Williams said. "I always believed that discipline and consistency would be enough. It became frustrating."
After months of research and hesitation, Williams chose to try a GLP-1 through Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company. She began weekly injections once she had stopped breastfeeding Adira. "They made it simple, and the results were real. I lost over 31 pounds, and I finally felt like myself again," she shared.
GLP-1 medications mimic a natural hormone that regulates appetite and satiety. They are approved for both diabetes management and weight loss, though their popularity has sparked ongoing debate. Williams admitted she was nervous about trying one, but she emphasized that the medication worked as a complement to her already active lifestyle.
"GLP-1 helped me enhance everything I was already doing, eating well, working out, training hard," she explained. "It wasn't a shortcut, it was a tool."
Now, with renewed energy, Williams says she feels less joint pain and more freedom in her movements. She has started training for a half marathon, sharing her progress with fans on social media.
For Williams, the experience has been about more than numbers on a scale. She stresses the importance of body confidence at any size, a message she passes down to her daughters. "The most important thing is to love yourself fully. That's the lesson I want them to carry forever."
