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Use of Weight Loss Drugs Rises Nationwide as Serena Williams Shares Her Story

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Across the United States, the demand for these drugs has surged. A 2024 Gallup survey found that 6% of U.S. adults—about 15.5 million people—report having used injectable diabetes medicines for weight loss, including 3% currently using them.

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

When Serena Williams told NBC’s “TODAY” show, “I just couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be at a healthy place and believe me, I don’t take shortcuts. I do everything but shortcuts,” she added her voice to the growing list of public figures discussing the use of GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

Williams said she has lost 31 pounds since beginning the medication in 2023 and launched a campaign with telehealth company Ro to reduce stigma around the drugs. Across the United States, the demand for these drugs has surged. A 2024 Gallup survey found that 6% of U.S. adults—about 15.5 million people—report having used injectable diabetes medicines for weight loss, including 3% currently using them. FAIR Health estimates that more than 2% of U.S. adults specifically used GLP-1s for weight loss in 2024. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that one in eight U.S. adults (12%) has ever taken a GLP-1 drug, with 6% currently using one. Use is higher among those with health issues: 43% of adults with diabetes, 26% with heart disease, and 22% who were told they were overweight or obese in the past five years. Black adults (18%) are more likely than white adults (10%) to have used these medications.

Effectiveness is widely reported. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Americans who have taken weight loss injections told Gallup they were “effective” or “extremely effective.” Current users were more positive than past users, with 73% of current users reporting effectiveness compared to 53% of past users. Still, cost remains a major barrier. According to KFF, more than half (54%) of adults who have taken GLP-1s said affording them was difficult, including 22% who said it was “very difficult.” List prices range from $936 to $1,349 per month before insurance. The Obesity Medicine Association notes that weight loss medications are typically prescribed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or 27 with weight-related conditions. Weight loss from anti-obesity medications averages between 5% and 21%, though results vary, and most people regain weight if they stop treatment. Long-term therapy is generally recommended.

Pew Research Center found that obesity now affects 42% of U.S. adults, up sharply over the past three decades. About two-thirds of Americans (65%) told Pew that willpower alone usually isn’t enough for people trying to lose weight and keep it off. The rising demand is seen in sales. Semaglutide-based medications such as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy generated $21.1 billion for Novo Nordisk in 2023, with 71% of revenues coming from the U.S. Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide drug, Mounjaro, brought in nearly $5.2 billion in its first full year on the market. Meanwhile, Williams said her decision to use GLP-1s came after years of struggling. “I had a lot of issues with my knees, especially after I had my kid. That, quite frankly, definitely had an effect on maybe some wins that I could have had in my career,” she said. “I just feel normal again,” Williams said. “It feels really good.”

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

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The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.