Serena Williams says she feels healthier now than she ever did as a professional athlete, thanks to weight loss medications.
In a new interview with People, the tennis icon talked about using GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medications, which work by impacting the brain to affect satiety levels. The most well-known brands include Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjuro.
"I feel healthier. I feel lighter. I feel great. It's a really good feeling," Williams, 44, told People. "Something l've seen improvement on recently were just my numbers ... huge improvements."
Although she did not specify which GLP-1 brand she uses while speaking to People, Williams confirmed she uses Zepbound during an August 2025 interview with Vogue.
Since starting the medication, Williams says she has lost 34 pounds, lowered her cholesterol by 30%, and reduced her lifetime risk of heart disease by 70 percent. Williams adds that being on GLP-1s has made her more active and able to enjoy sports again.
"It feels free. I always say I wish they had this when I was on tour. I would've been really amazing,” she quipped. “I just feel like I'm at my healthiest. And that's not something I could say even when I was a professional athlete."
Although she clarified that she has no plans to return to professional tennis, Williams admits she has occasional thoughts about it.
"I think about it all the time. I think that's natural though as an athlete, especially a top-level athlete,” she notes. “For me, I only stopped because I wanted to have more kids, not because of anything else, you know? But just because it's something I think about, doesn't mean that it's something I would do. But the summer of Serena does sound fun."
"It's just really nice to be able to be totally natural and be able to play and do sports,” she noted. “I was playing tennis the last couple of days, just having fun, going for walks and runs and doing Pilates.”
For the 23-time Grand Slam winner, taking GLP-1 medication is about living her best life and being present for her daughters, 8-year-old Alexis Olympia and 2-year-old Adira River.
"I've had a great impact, bigger than I would've ever dreamed of having. I just wanted to naturally share my story and tell everyone that it's not a shortcut. It had such a stigma and I wanted to be a part of breaking that down," Williams said. "I was at the fair the other day and this random guy came up to me and was like, 'I started GLP-1s because of you! And so I love the impact it's making, not only with women but with men as well."
Williams, who in August announced a partnership with telehealth company Ro, will appear in a Super Bowl commercial for the company alongside Charles Barkley and other patients to promote the health improvements GLP-1s can bring.
“I love amplifying the story and with me being in sport, there's no greater stage to be on, to me, than a Super Bowl ad,” she said. “Just being able to tell my story authentically and continuing to break down the barriers or the stigma of GLP-1s.”
