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%.
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in th...
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport an...
At least four people have died and four others remain missing after flash floods swept through a mountainous village in northern Vietnam, as days of h...
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in the Strait of Hormuz.
At least four people have died and four others remain missing after flash floods swept through a mountainous village in northern Vietnam, as days of heavy rain continue to batter the region.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 18th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel killed at least eight Palestinians in an airstrike that hit mourners attending a funeral in central Gaza on Friday, according to local health officials, in one of the deadliest attacks reported in the strip since a ceasefire took effect last October.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
From a Hellenistic burial chamber beneath Naples to an ornate ceiling in Oxford and the surviving fragments of a Michelangelo sculpture, 3D scanning is bringing fragile cultural treasures within closer reach.
Medical drama 'The Pitt' has emerged as the leading contender for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards, earning the most nominations and cementing its status as one of television's breakout successes.
The airline captain celebrated for safely landing a passenger jet on New York's Hudson River in 2009 has revealed he has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, best known internationally for his role in 'Jurassic Park', died suddenly on Monday aged 78 after recovering from cancer, his family said.
Uzbekistan has approved a new film rebate programme offering foreign productions up to 4 billion soums (around U.S.$315,000) in reimbursement as it seeks to attract international filmmakers and boost tourism through cinema.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment