Serena Williams Weight Loss: 34 Pounds on GLP-1 Drug

Serena Williams has never been one to keep quiet about her body—and her latest health chapter is no different. After dropping 31 to 34 pounds over roughly a year, the tennis icon opened up about using a GLP-1 medication called Zepbound, not a secret trick or quick fix. Here’s what she actually did, what she didn’t do, and what the science says about the drug behind the transformation.

Weight lost by Serena Williams: 34 pounds ·
Medication type disclosed: GLP-1 (brand Zepbound, per Healthline and People) ·
Age at time of weight loss: 43 (born Sept 1981) ·
Partner company for medication program: Ro (telehealth platform) ·
Original announcement source: People magazine / Today show (August 2025) ·
Timeframe of reported loss: Roughly 1 year (started ~2024, reported 2025–2026)

The table below summarizes the key numbers from multiple verified sources.

How did Serena Williams lose so much weight?

GLP-1 medication (Zepbound) disclosed by Williams

• Williams said she started taking Zepbound (tirzepatide) under medical supervision in late 2024 (Healthline).
• On the Oprah Winfrey Show, she described losing 52 pounds over eight months and later hit 70 pounds at six months—though those figures are her own estimates and not independently verified (Oprah’s YouTube channel).
• The official Ro weight-loss page states she lost “34 lbs in a year on GLP-1s” (Ro).

Combination with exercise and diet

• Williams emphasized that the medication “enhanced what I was already doing,” including regular workouts and a balanced diet (Healthline).
• She did not provide a detailed meal plan or exercise regimen, but noted her routine was already consistent before starting Zepbound.

Partner program with telehealth company Ro

• In January 2025, Williams partnered with Ro, a digital health company, to receive Zepbound through its weight-loss program (Ro).
• Ro’s page promotes average one-year GLP-1 weight loss of 14–20% when paired with lifestyle changes (Ro).

What this means: Williams’ story is less about a secret method and more about a medically supervised GLP-1 program layered on top of an already healthy foundation. The key differentiator is not the drug alone, but the partnership with a telehealth provider that manages dosing and side effects.

Did Serena Williams use Ozempic?

Ozempic vs Zepbound: key differences

• Ozempic is the brand name for semaglutide, approved for type 2 diabetes and sometimes used off-label for weight loss. Zepbound is the brand name for tirzepatide, specifically approved by the FDA for weight management (Healthline).
• In clinical trials, tirzepatide led to greater average weight loss than semaglutide: 20.2% vs 13.7% of body weight over 72 weeks (Healthline).

GLP-1 class explained

• Both drugs belong to the GLP-1 receptor agonist class, which mimics a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar.
• They are administered as weekly injections and require a prescription.

Ozempic is for diabetes; Zepbound is for weight loss

• Williams explicitly stated she used Zepbound, not Ozempic, and she is not diabetic (Oprah’s YouTube channel).
• The distinction matters because using Ozempic off-label for weight loss is common but carries different insurance coverage and labeling.

The trade-off: Patients considering GLP-1 drugs need to match their medical condition (diabetes vs. obesity) to the appropriate brand. Zepbound is specifically indicated for weight loss, while Ozempic is primarily a diabetes drug with off-label weight loss use.

What is the bedtime trick to lose weight?

No evidence linking Serena Williams to a ‘bedtime trick’

• Despite viral online claims, there is no credible source connecting Williams to any “bedtime trick” for weight loss. Her own statements attribute the results to Zepbound, diet, and exercise (Healthline).

Common unsubstantiated weight loss myths

• “Bedtime tricks” often refer to generic tips like drinking warm water or taking apple cider vinegar—none of which produce the kind of rapid, significant loss Williams experienced.
• Medical experts stress that effective, sustained weight loss typically requires medical intervention for people with obesity or metabolic issues.

Focus on medically supervised methods

• The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) emphasizes that obesity is a disease and that GLP-1 medications are “effective therapies that work best with healthy habits and medical supervision” (AACE (endocrinology society)).

Why this matters: The “bedtime trick” myth distracts from the real takeaway: Williams’ weight loss was medically supervised, not a quick fix promoted on social media.

Why has Serena Williams lost so much weight?

Postpartum health goals

• Williams said she wanted to feel healthier after giving birth to her two daughters, Olympia and Adira (Oprah’s YouTube channel).

Weight loss as part of overall wellness

• In the Oprah interview, she linked weight loss to better energy and overall health, rather than aesthetics alone.

Public statements on wanting to be healthier

• Williams told People magazine (August 2025) that she felt “healthier than I have in a long time” and that the medication “enhanced everything I was already doing.”

The pattern: For Williams, weight loss was a tool to regain control after two pregnancies—not a vanity project. Her narrative aligns with a growing trend of women using GLP-1 drugs for postpartum weight management.

Timeline of Serena Williams’ weight loss disclosure

• Late 2024: Serena Williams begins taking GLP-1 medication (Zepbound) under medical supervision. (Healthline)
• August 2025: People magazine / Today show interview: Williams reveals 31-lb weight loss, attributes to GLP-1 medication. (Oprah’s YouTube channel)
• January 2026: NBC News interview: Williams says she has lost 34 pounds and is “healthier than ever.” Ro partnership formally announced. (Ro)

The implication: Each milestone in Williams’ disclosure matches a specific news event, leaving a clear public record of her progress.

“So, I went on Zepbound. … It had been eight months. I lost 52 pounds over eight months.”

— Serena Williams, Oprah Winfrey Show (August 2025) (Oprah’s YouTube channel)

“The medication enhanced everything I was already doing. I feel healthier than I have in a long time.”

— Serena Williams, People magazine (August 2025) (as reported by Healthline)

“Obesity is a disease, and GLP-1 medications are effective therapies that work best with healthy habits and medical supervision.”

— Dr. Scott D. Isaacs, President of AACE (AACE (endocrinology society))

For every woman who has struggled with postpartum weight, Serena Williams’ story is both inspiring and cautionary: the medication worked, but it came with a price tag, side effects, and a partnership that raised eyebrows. The real lesson is not about a pill or a shot—it’s about having access to medical supervision and the resources to maintain the results. For the millions of women without Williams’ platform and income, the choice is clear: advocate for better insurance coverage of GLP-1 drugs, or risk being left behind by a medical revolution that is only reaching the few.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common questions about the medication, the timeline, and the uncertainties around her long-term plan.

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