“I can’t take anymore negativity and lies” – Serena Williams explains why she avoids weighing scales after becoming ‘kinder’ about body image issues

Serena Williams has been candid about her struggles with body image and how she’s learned to embrace a healthier relationship with her body over the years. In a recent interview, she shared how she’s moved away from obsessing over the number on the scale, revealing that the constant pressure to meet certain physical ideals had become overwhelming. “I can’t take anymore negativity and lies,” she said, explaining how the negativity surrounding weight and appearance used to affect her mental and emotional well-being.

For Williams, being a professional athlete comes with its own set of pressures—expectations to maintain peak physical performance while also meeting societal standards of beauty. Early in her career, she admits that the focus on her weight and physical appearance, especially from the media, made her feel self-conscious. But as she’s matured, both as an athlete and as a mother, Williams has developed a more compassionate attitude toward herself.

Instead of obsessing over scales, she now focuses on how her body feels and functions. “I’ve become kinder to myself,” she explained. She realized that the true value of her body lies in what it can do—its strength, resilience, and ability to perform at the highest levels of tennis.

This shift in mindset, Williams said, has been empowering. She now avoids weighing herself, a practice that once contributed to negative self-talk and unnecessary stress. Williams’ journey serves as a reminder that body image is deeply personal, and cultivating self-love requires letting go of unrealistic expectations and external pressures. By focusing on her health rather than numbers, Serena Williams is setting a powerful example of how to prioritize mental and physical well-being over societal ideals.