Serena Williams reveals 31-pound GLP-1 weight loss and models lingerie in campaign with Ro

Serena Williams, the 43-year-old tennis icon, disclosed that she shed about 31 pounds with a GLP-1 weight-loss medication and has used her experience to illuminate the topic in the public eye. In a recent Instagram post, Williams slipped into silky baby-blue lingerie, posing with a smile that emphasized her renewed, leaner frame. The caption read: “Dressed to the nines… and on cloud nine. In satin swimwear of course.” The image underscores a broader push she is making, not only about personal health, but also about the legitimacy and accessibility of medical weight-loss options.

The revelation about the GLP-1-assisted weight loss came in the wake of a wider discussion Williams has carried publicly in recent months. She said that, as an elite athlete who has pursued peak performance for years, she had tried to reach a healthier weight on her own but could not do so. In interviews and through her own posts, she has emphasized that she would not take shortcuts and that the decision to pursue GLP-1 treatment was a carefully considered step after exhaustive self-training efforts failed to bring her to the target number. She described the weight loss as a crucial improvement for her health and mobility, noting that the journey began after Olympia’s birth in 2017 when she found it particularly challenging to return to her pre-pregnancy shape.

Williams also posted additional images on the same day in a bright yellow swimsuit while in the water, striking poses that showcased her confidence and the performance-ready physique she has developed. In that set, she captioned the photos with a note about melanin and sunshine, and her fans flooded the comments with praise. On a separate appearance in New York City, she wore an all-gray ensemble paired with silver pumps and a Nike cap that read “I’m on Ro.” The repeated appearances underscore a coordinated push to normalize GLP-1–based weight management as part of a broader wellness conversation rather than a one-off reveal.

The multi-post effort aligns with a formal campaign Williams kicked off with Ro, a weight-management company that offers GLP-1 medications through telehealth. Ro is the platform linked to her public statements about the treatment’s role in her health and fitness reset. The campaign stresses that taking GLP-1 is not an “easy way out,” but rather a medical option that can support individuals who have struggled to reach a healthy weight despite rigorous dieting and training. Williams’s husband, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, is an investor in Ro and serves on its board, a connection that has amplified the public interest in her collaboration with the company.

In discussing her decision to pursue GLP-1 therapy, Williams has referenced the days after Adira’s birth in August 2023, when she began to experience a persistent barrier to weight loss despite ongoing workouts. She has described the process as frustrating and unprecedented for her, given her history of long training sessions and strict disciplines. Williams has indicated that she engaged in thorough research before starting the treatment, seeking to understand both the benefits and the limitations. After stopping breastfeeding when Adira was six months old, she began weekly injections and reported improvements in energy, joint comfort, and overall daily activity. She has stated that the regimen helped her reach a healthier weight more efficiently and with fewer obstacles than she had encountered previously, while emphasizing that the approach requires ongoing commitment and medical oversight.

GLP-1 agonists are medications designed to help manage blood sugar and can also promote weight loss. They are typically injectable and administered subcutaneously in common sites such as the abdomen, outer thighs, upper buttocks, and the backs of the arms. Medical experts describe GLP-1 therapies as one component of a comprehensive treatment plan for Type 2 diabetes or obesity, requiring guidance from a healthcare provider to determine suitability. Williams has cited these medical distinctions in discussing her journey and has indicated that her decision was made after weighing medical advice, personal health goals, and her professional responsibilities.

Beyond the weight-loss narrative, Williams has described tangible benefits that accompany the metabolic changes she has achieved. She has reported feeling more energetic and less joint-stiff, with an increased capacity to participate in activities she enjoys and to maintain training regimens that support her overall health. While she remains a high-profile athlete and public figure, her emphasis has been on health and well-being rather than simply image. In interviews and on social media, she has reiterated that the path she chose was deliberate and medically guided, underscoring a broader conversation about weight management, athletic longevity, and the role of medical support in achieving personal health objectives.

The public timeline tied to Williams’s disclosures shows a progression from personal updates to public partnerships. In July and August, she posted several swimsuit photos that showcased her sculpted physique, prompting widespread discussion about body image and the responsibilities that come with a high-visibility platform. The Ro collaboration, announced in the wake of those posts, has helped contextualize her posts as part of a broader education about GLP-1 therapies, their availability through telehealth channels, and the importance of consulting healthcare professionals before commencing any treatment. Medical experts have cautioned that GLP-1 medications are not a universal solution and must be tailored to individual medical histories and needs. Williams’s experience is being presented within this framework, with a clear emphasis on medical consultation and ongoing monitoring.

For readers seeking a concise explanation, GLP-1 agonists are a class of medications that can lower blood sugar levels and assist with weight loss. They are most often injectable and administered in the fatty tissue under the skin. The expanding dialogue around their use continues to involve athletes and public figures who discuss the realities of managing health while maintaining high-performance standards. Williams’s messages emphasize that medical guidance, patient education, and informed decision-making are essential components of any weight-management strategy.

As Williams advances her public-facing campaign and continues to share personal milestones, she remains focused on health as a cornerstone of her lifestyle. The combination of publicly sharing her weight-loss journey, modeling fashion-forward looks, and partnering with a medical platform reflects a broader trend in Culture & Entertainment coverage: high-profile athletes increasingly engaging in open dialogues about health, wellness, and the nuanced role of medical therapies in achieving longevity and quality of life. Williams’s experiences, while personal, contribute to a larger conversation about accessible, responsible avenues for weight management and the ongoing evolution of how athletes navigate health in the public eye.