Tennis star Serena Williams is at the heart of a controversy surrounding women’s bodies, body positivity, and the use of GLP 1 products for weight loss.
The athlete who retired from Tennis in 2022 came under fire after her recent commercial in conjunction with Telehealth company Ro aired on Thursday.
She revealed for the first time that after struggling to lose post-baby weight, the GLP-1 treatments helped her lose 31 pounds (14 kg)
In the commercial, Williams said “they say GLP 1 is for weight loss, it's not” adding that “after kids this is the medicine my body needed”.
She had earlier shared her struggle with losing weight with People Magazine saying "I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be no matter what I did, no matter how much I trained."
Body positive groups have accused her of undoing years of work aimed at women, telling them that it was ok to take time to get back in shape after childbirth.
A comment on the star’s IG page says “The messaging here is so wrong coming from an athlete like her and very dangerous for society”.
Another user attributed Serena’s involvement with the company to her husband’s ties with the same telehealth organization.
Ro said Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of social media site Reddit, is an investor in the company and serves on its board.
A spokesperson for the company told Reuters that "Serena knows people may be surprised to learn that she would use a GLP-1, and that’s exactly why we think she is the perfect person to share her story,"
The company also posted a photo of Williams on its Instagram page captioned “Spotted 📸 @serenawilliams takes to the streets: she’s on Ro and proud of it”.
GLP-1 drugs promote weight loss by reducing appetite and causing the stomach to empty more slowly. Novo Nordisk's NOVOb.CO Wegovy and Eli Lilly's LLY.N Zepbound have been shown to reduce weight by around 20%.
U.S. President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky...
At least 35 people have been killed after two high-speed trains collided in Spain on Wednesday, in the second deadly rail disaster in less tha...
A rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton known as “Jodi” has sold for $47.3 million at Sotheby’s in New York, smashing its pr...
Despite losing his bloc's majority in Israel's 120-seat Knesset in a hotly contested election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has managed to remain in the lead after 70 per cent of votes were tallied on Wednesday. Figures are subject to change as counting continues.
Russia and Ukraine have begun a regional ceasefire to allow the start of a humanitarian effort in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, both sides said on Tuesday, but they continue strikes elsewhere, including the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
Russian strikes hit several parts of Ukraine overnight, injuring at least six people and targeting energy and port infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile attacks had resumed.
Nearly two years after the 20 October 2024 parliamentary elections, Iraq’s Kurdistan Region remains without a cabinet. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won 39 of 100 seats and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) 23, leaving neither able to govern alone.
The Pentagon is prepared to launch potentially major military operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order from U.S. President Donald Trump, with sufficient forces already deployed in the Middle East, according to a CNN report.
A rare 67-million-year-old dinosaur skeleton known as “Jodi” has sold for $47.3 million at Sotheby’s in New York, smashing its pre-sale estimate and becoming the second-most expensive dinosaur fossil ever sold at auction.
Iran is looking to turn its centuries-old tea culture into an opportunity for trade, industrial development and tourism as it held the Second Tea Festival in the northern province of Gilan bordering the Caspian Sea.
The 12th Baku International Book Fair has opened at the Baku Expo Center, bringing together writers, publishers and cultural representatives from 30 countries to promote literature and international cultural exchange.
Here are five major events bringing sport, cinema, literature and the arts to Baku this October, as Azerbaijan’s capital welcomes international talent and visitors for a packed cultural calendar.
Baku is welcoming filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts for the 17th edition of the Baku International Film Festival (BIFF), bringing together Azerbaijani and international productions. The festival began on Wednesday and will run for six days.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment