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Ro CEO uses Super Bowl platform to promote GLP-1 awareness with Serena Williams

Feb 4, 2026, 1:00 AM10
(Update: Feb 4, 2026, 1:00 AM)
settlement in the Italian municipality of Riva del Po
American tennis player (born 1981)
American business magazine

Ro CEO uses Super Bowl platform to promote GLP-1 awareness with Serena Williams

  • Telehealth company Ro is featuring Serena Williams in their first Super Bowl ad to discuss GLP-1 drugs.
  • This ad is part of a broader effort by drugmakers to destigmatize obesity medications, especially GLP-1s.
  • The campaigns aim to educate the public about the benefits of GLP-1s amidst coverage challenges and insurer restrictions.
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In the United States, the Super Bowl is becoming a promotional field for various wellness products, with many companies focusing on health and dietary innovations. This year, telehealth company Ro has decided to join this movement by running a Super Bowl ad featuring renowned tennis star Serena Williams. The ad aims to shed light on GLP-1 drugs, which are used for weight loss and have gained significant attention due to their effectiveness. In her appearance, Serena Williams discusses how these drugs have positively impacted her health metrics, including mobility, cholesterol levels, sugar levels, and weight. The shift towards advertising GLP-1 medications reflects a trend among drug manufacturers such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who have also initiated campaigns around the Super Bowl to combat the stigma surrounding obesity medication. This increase in visibility is particularly pertinent as GLP-1 drugs have accounted for a significant portion of healthcare claims, over 10% in the previous year. Companies are viewing the current landscape as a potential tipping point in how these medications are perceived and utilized within the healthcare system. Despite ongoing challenges, such as the recent cessation of Medicaid coverage for weight loss GLP-1s in states like California and Pennsylvania, there is a concerted effort from healthcare providers to advocate for the acceptance and normalization of these treatments. Insurers are beginning to impose rules that limit access to these drugs, raising concerns amongst healthcare advocates about the possible implications on patient care and accessibility. The telehealth sector is gearing up to address these issues head-on, as demonstrated by Ro's advertising strategy. The overarching goal behind these campaigns is not only to promote the products themselves but also to shift public perception of drugs that have historically faced stigma. The CEO of Ro emphasizes the need for a cultural change regarding the acceptance of GLP-1s, presenting this as crucial for ensuring that those who could benefit from them are able to do so without facing societal judgment. By engaging the public through high-profile advertising, the company hopes to foster a broader understanding and acceptance of obesity treatments.

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