Serena Williams, 43, Shares What Helped Her Lose 31 Lbs After Weight-Loss Struggles

The tennis superstar reveals a health decision that helped her overcome years of postpartum weight struggles, and the results have been transformative.

In an interview with People on August 21, 2025, Serena Williams discussed her struggle to lose weight after becoming a mother and the treatment that finally worked after years of intense training and healthy eating failed to produce results.

Her challenges began after the birth of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017. Despite following a strict fitness routine and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Williams said her body simply didn't respond the way it used to.

"I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained," she recalled. "It was crazy because I'd never been in a place like that in my life where I worked so hard, ate so healthy and could never get down to where I needed to be at."

For someone who had built a career on hard work and consistency, the lack of progress was particularly discouraging. "I had never taken shortcuts in my career and always worked really hard. I know what it takes to be the best," Williams said.

She also expressed frustration at putting in so much effort without seeing results, an experience that challenged her usual sense of control over her body.

Williams's challenges persisted after the birth of her second daughter, Adira, in 2023. Still committed to a healthy routine, she eventually realized that her usual methods weren't enough.

In early 2024, after she stopped breastfeeding, Williams decided to try a medical approach. She began using a GLP-1 medication prescribed through Ro, a direct-to-patient healthcare company.

GLP-1 — short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists — is a class of medications that helps regulate appetite by affecting satiety signals in the brain.

The 43-year-old ex-athlete admitted she was initially nervous about starting the medication, especially given the controversy surrounding GLP-1 treatments.

Williams said, "I did a lot of research on it. I was like, 'is this a shortcut? What are the benefits? What are not the benefits?' I really wanted to dive into it before I just did it."

Once she felt confident moving forward, Williams connected with a doctor through Ro and began weekly injections. She found the process straightforward and said the ongoing support made it easy to stay consistent.

Now serving as a celebrity ambassador for the company, she credits the treatment with helping her lose more than 31 pounds. "I lost over 31 pounds using my GLP-1 and I was really excited about that weight loss," she said.

Beyond the physical change, Williams said the treatment improved her mobility. "I just can do more. I'm more active. My joints don't hurt as much. I just feel like something as simple as just getting down is a lot easier for me. And I do it a lot faster," she explained.

She also noted a positive shift in her overall well-being. "I feel great...I feel really good and healthy. I feel light physically and light mentally," she shared.

Body image is also something the former tennis pro takes seriously, especially as a mother to two daughters. She said she has open conversations at home about self-worth.

"With me going through what I've went through growing up in public and just having millions of people commenting on my body, it's really important to teach them to be confident at any size, just like I try to be," she said.

The former tennis sensation reflected on how looking back at old photos — whether she was thinner or curvier — reminded her of how confident she had felt at the time.

"So I just think it's so important to love who you are. You'll never get that moment back. You don't want to judge yourself when you're just always showing up as your best," Williams stated.

With her health improving, Williams intends to keep using the GLP-1 medication when necessary. She's currently preparing for a half-marathon and staying dedicated to her regular gym sessions, which she considers a key part of her wellness routine.

This revelation comes only months after her changing appearance drew attention. Her look at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party in New Orleans on February 8 sparked a wave of reactions online.

Fans couldn't help but notice her changing appearance, from her hair to her muscle tone, with some even speculating that she might be pregnant.

The tennis legend, fashioning blonde hair, wore a gorgeous pinstriped Alexander McQueen minidress and matching blazer to the occasion held at The Sugar Mill in downtown New Orleans. She paired her stunning look with red heels and minimal jewelry.

A short clip of Williams walking into the party surfaced online, drawing fans' attention to her changing appearance. The words "Her ✨aura✨," were superimposed on the clip which was captioned, "Serena Williams doesn't even have to try to be ✨that girl ✨."

Reactions to the clip poured in, with one writing, "What she's just walking that's aura [sic]." Another fan asked, "She must think she does or why has she elected to change her face so much? [sic}" while someone added, "That girl messed up her face."

Among discussions about her look, one pointed out a change in Williams' physique, "Her muscle mass was reduced when she stopped playing tennis and taking." Another remarked, "Her hair grew longer," while one user simply shared, "🙄."

On the other hand, fans also showed admiration with a heart emoji or comments like, "She looks good. Money talks." Serena Williams' love for fashion has been evident since her days playing tennis, so it's no surprise that her latest fashion moment at the Fanatics Super Bowl Party didn't go unnoticed.

The following day, Williams also caused a stir at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Kendrick Lamar, the showrunner known for his deep ties to Compton, California, closed out his set with a surprise appearance by Williams, who earned mixed reactions.

Williams took the stage on February 9 while Lamar performed his song "Not Like Us," a track widely recognized for its role in his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake.

As the music played, Williams was seen dancing, including a signature c-walk, which instantly grabbed the attention of viewers and social media users.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, with many commenting on Williams' presence and dance moves.

On X, one user wrote, "Also, Serena Williams is so disrespectful." Another added, "Serena Williams [sic] crip walking was the ultimate act of disrespect." A different user reacted by saying, "Serena Williams crip walking during not like us is insane [sic]."

Some saw it as a major occurrence, with one describing it as "The highlight of the performance." However, others criticized the moment.

A user stated, "Leaving your one year old daughter at home, to come and hate on your ex from a decade ago [sic]," while another simply called it, "Cringe and embarrassing in my opinion."

Reactions on Instagram were also divided. One fan praised, "She looked immaculate!" and someone called her performance the "Best part of the show! Lol."

Following the viral moment, Williams took to social media to respond to the buzz surrounding her dance moves. In a lighthearted post on X, she shared a video joking, "Man I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon, I would've been fined." Her post was accompanied by the caption, "Super Bowl halftime show babyyyyyyyyy [sic]."

Williams' comment referenced a similar moment from her past. During the London 2012 Olympics, she danced briefly on Wimbledon's grass court after defeating Maria Sharapova in the gold medal match.

At the time, her celebration sparked criticism, with some arguing that the move was inappropriate for such a setting.

The dance in question, known as the crip-walk or C-walk, has deep cultural roots. Originating in Los Angeles in the 1980s, it was initially used as a symbolic form of communication among members of the Crips, one of the city's most well-known gangs.

Over time, it evolved and was later popularized in hip-hop culture, eventually becoming a widely recognized dance style by the late 1990s.