When Serena Williams announced that she turned to a GLP-1 medication to help with postpartum weight loss, it made headlines far beyond the sports world. Here was one of the most disciplined athletes of her generation, someone whose career was built on resilience and strength, acknowledging that even with rigorous training and healthy eating, her body was not responding the way it once did. Her candor has opened an important conversation about what it means to seek medical support for weight management, particularly for women navigating complex physical changes.
Williams described feeling frustrated after the births of her daughters, Olympia in 2017 and Adira in 2023. Despite exercising and following a strict diet, she was unable to shed the weight she had gained during pregnancy. “I had never taken shortcuts,” she explained in one interview, “so it was very frustrating to do all the same things and never be able to change that number on the scale.” Eventually, she began treatment with a GLP-1 medication through the telehealth provider Ro, losing more than thirty pounds. Alongside the weight loss, she reported feeling less joint pain, greater energy, and a renewed confidence. She continues to train, preparing for a half marathon, and emphasizes that the medication supported, rather than replaced, her healthy lifestyle choices.
For those unfamiliar, GLP-1 receptor agonists were first developed as treatments for type 2 diabetes. These drugs mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, reduce appetite, and slow digestion. In clinical trials, patients using medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide lost significant amounts of weight and experienced improved cardiometabolic health. What Williams has made clear is that these therapies are not magic solutions. They work best when combined with nutrition, exercise, and a willingness to rethink what support looks like.
Her story resonates not just with postpartum women, but also with women in midlife who may be experiencing perimenopause or menopause. Hormonal shifts during these stages often make weight management more difficult, even for those who maintain consistent routines. Many women describe hitting the same kind of plateau Williams did: eating well, exercising regularly, and yet seeing little or no change on the scale. This can create a cycle of frustration and self-blame, reinforcing the misconception that lack of discipline is the issue. Williams’s openness challenges that narrative. If a world-class athlete can acknowledge that biology sometimes resists effort, then everyday women can feel validated in their own struggles.
There is also a broader healthcare dimension. Access to GLP-1s remains uneven, with high costs and insurance barriers limiting who can benefit. Some patients with diabetes have faced shortages because of the surge in demand. There are also questions about long-term use, since stopping treatment often leads to weight regain. For clinicians, this creates a new conversation about how to integrate these drugs responsibly into patient care. For patients, it means weighing potential benefits against financial, medical, and emotional realities.
Still, the impact of Williams’s story should not be underestimated. By sharing her journey through a mainstream telehealth provider, she helps destigmatize the use of weight management medications. She frames her choice as part of a continuum of care, no different from seeking therapy for mental health or treatment for high blood pressure. In doing so, she gives other women permission to consider medical support without shame.
Ultimately, Williams’s decision highlights the intersection of biology, medicine, and self-compassion. Her honesty allows women at different stages of life to see themselves not as failures for struggling, but as humans with complex bodies deserving of care. Whether in the postpartum period, midlife, or beyond, weight and health are not simply matters of willpower. They are the product of hormones, genetics, environment, and, increasingly, access to therapies that can make the journey less punishing.
Serena Williams has always represented strength. Now she also represents a form of strength that does not rely solely on discipline or grit, but on knowing when to accept help. For many women navigating perimenopause, menopause, or postpartum recovery, that is a lesson worth holding onto. It is a reminder that science is evolving, that support is available, and that self-worth is never tied to a number on the scale.
What this means for midlife women
Perimenopause and menopause can change how the body stores fat and how hungry you feel. Estrogen decline may slow metabolism and shift fat to the abdomen, which makes weight plateaus common even with consistent routines.
GLP-1 medications can be an option when lifestyle changes are not enough and when medical criteria are met. They work best with nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress care. Plans should be guided by a clinician who understands midlife hormones and cardiometabolic risk.
Talk with your clinician about goals, contraindications, costs, and what to expect if you stop therapy. Health is not defined by a number on the scale. Progress includes energy, mobility, and metabolic markers.
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