Serena Williams claims that using the GLP-1 weight loss supplement has improved her health compared to her tennis career
Serena Williams reports that taking GLP-1 medication helps her health by lowering her cholesterol, stabilizing her blood sugar, and relieving her joint discomfort today.
Serena Williams claims that taking a weight-loss drug has improved her health more than at any other time in her illustrious tennis career.
About a year after starting a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the 44-year-old tennis icon claims considerable benefits in her overall health, including lower cholesterol, steadier blood sugar levels, and reduced joint tension. Williams retired from professional tennis in 2022 after 27 years, winning 23 Grand Slam titles and four Olympic gold medals.
Despite dominating the sport, Williams says she struggled for years to reduce weight with food and exercise alone. Additionally, she became more worried about heart disease and diabetes, which disproportionately impact Black Americans and run in her family.
In August, Williams publicly announced that she began using a GLP-1 medicine and teamed with telehealth startup Ro, which provides the pills. Her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, is an investor and board member at Ro.
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are examples of GLP-1 drugs that function by controlling blood sugar and reducing appetite. Some are authorized for managing weight, treating diabetes, and lowering cardiovascular risk.
Over the past year, Williams claims to have shed roughly 34 pounds. She also reports a 30% decline in total cholesterol since 2021 from 185 mg/dL to 129 mg/dL considerably below the 150 mg/dL threshold many doctors consider desirable. Experts point out that GLP-1 users usually see a loss of about 5%, therefore such a significant drop in cholesterol is unusual.
Williams acknowledges that quitting GLP-1 medication can result in weight gain and refers to it as “a lifetime thing.” She adds that reducing weight has eased pressure on her knees, a condition that plagued her throughout her career.
When asked if improved health could lead to a tennis comeback, Williams says she remains open-minded, calling it “not a yes or a no.”
