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Serena Williams, a titan of the tennis world and one of the most accomplished athletes of all time, has openly discussed her use of weight loss medications, aiming to destigmatize their use.
Will her candidness foster greater acceptance among those using such drugs, and could it quell the voices of critics?
The 43-year-old tennis icon, boasting a record-breaking 23 Grand Slam titles, has long been the epitome of fitness. However, she admits that, like many, she struggled to shed weight after childbirth.
Williams shared on the Today Show that she ultimately viewed the excess weight as “an opponent.” Despite rigorous training regimens involving “five hours a day” of running, walking, biking, and stair climbing, she couldn’t overcome this adversary as she did on the court. Consequently, she felt compelled to “try something different.”
She noted that many of her friends were using GLP-1 medications, a class of drugs known to aid weight loss, prompting her to explore this avenue.
Williams insists that her weight loss journey, which saw her shed 31lb (14kg) over eight months, was not effortless or a quick fix, despite utilizing medication. She has not disclosed the specific brand she is using.
Skepticism surrounds the timing of Williams’s recent transparency, as she has recently become a spokesperson for Ro, a company marketing GLP-1 brands such as Wegovy and Zepbound (known as Mounjaro in the UK) through its weight-loss program. Her husband is also an investor in the company.
Despite these associations and the potential side effects of the medication, her openness resonates with many, as she aims to alleviate the shame often associated with using medication to aid weight loss.
Caleb Luna, assistant professor of feminist studies at the University of California, describes Williams’s disclosure as “a breakthrough.”
Luna suggests that it helps counter criticisms that “people are taking the easy way out” by using weight loss drugs, challenging narratives about how “weight loss is achieved.”
“It gets rid of the stereotype that these drugs are for fat people who are being lazy and incompetent.”
“In that respect it’s maybe a good thing.”
However, Luna also finds the revelation somewhat “terrifying” and “a little bit sad,” fearing it may undermine hard work and dedication, shifting focus towards appearance and the pressure to conform to certain ideals.
“She has achieved things that so few people, in our time and throughout history have achieved.
“But now it just shows how all those accomplishments can be undermined by body size.
“Scarily, weight loss seems to outshine all those record-breaking achievements.”
Williams’s weight and appearance have been subject to scrutiny throughout her life. The pressure to conform to societal expectations persists, regardless of athletic success.
While Williams is perhaps the most prominent athlete to openly discuss using weight loss medication, other public figures have shared similar experiences.
Oprah Winfrey has stated that she uses GLP-1 as a tool, alongside exercise and healthy eating, to manage her weight.
Actress Whoopi Goldberg says she lost the weight of “two people” after taking the drug, and singer Kelly Clarkson, who says she was “chased” by her “doctor for two years” before she agreed to take it, are among the dozens of stars who have been open about taking the medication.
Williams retired from professional tennis in 2022, concluding her career at the US Open, but she remains committed to achieving what she considers her “healthy weight” since the birth of her second child, Adina.
In her interview with the Today Show, she explained that she felt like her “body was missing something” and struggled to reach her desired weight, despite intensive training.
Dr. Claire Madigan, a senior research associate in behavioural medicine at Loughborough University’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, notes that elite athletes can face challenges in losing weight.
“They are used to consuming a lot of calories and when they leave the sport they can find it difficult – it needs a change in behaviour.”
Dr. Madigan acknowledged the importance of Williams highlighting that her weight loss was not solely attributable to medication, emphasizing her commitment to diet and physical activity.
She added: “It’s great she is talking about how difficult it is to lose weight after having a baby.”
However, Dr. Madigan also expressed concern that Williams’s message might be misinterpreted or even demotivate some women, noting that “The drugs are quite expensive and the average person may think here is an elite athlete, she’s got access to the gym, she’s got time, she has a nutritionist… and she’s had to use GLP-1s”.
Dr. Madigan also expressed concern that the potential side effects of taking the drugs – which can include gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhoea, and in rare cases, gallbladder and kidney problems – may not have been widely discussed in the publicity surrounding Williams’s announcement.
Williams reports that she experienced no side effects and told Women’s Health magazine that she is finally seeing the benefits of all her hard work at the gym.
“My joints are a lot better,” she says, “I just had my check-up, and the doctor said everything – including my blood sugar levels – looked great.”
And, even though, she’s no longer breaking new ground on the tennis courts, she is still smashing her own records, with the help, she says of weight loss drugs. She’s currently training for a half marathon.
“I am running farther than I ever have,” she says proudly.
Additional reporting by Alex Kleiderman
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