Charles Barkley becomes Ro's first GLP-1 celebrity ambassador

Ro, a direct-to-patient telehealth company, announced on April 29, 2025 that NBA Hall of Famer and broadcaster Charles Barkley had joined the company as a "GLP-1 celebrity ambassador" ^[1][2]. Barkley is starring in a series of ads for Ro's GLP-1 weight-loss offering and is restarting treatment through the platform after previously stopping, according to the announcement ^[1][2].

What the announcement says

According to Ro's press release, Barkley "lost nearly 50 pounds when he initially started on a GLP-1 medication, but like many Americans, struggled to stay on treatment due to ongoing supply and access issues" ^[1][2]. He eventually stopped and "over time, regained much of the weight" ^[1][2]. The release does not name which GLP-1 medication he took, does not say how much weight he regained, and does not give dates for when he started or stopped ^[1][2]. Reports elsewhere have cited a larger loss of roughly 65 pounds on Mounjaro (tirzepatide), but that figure and that brand name do not appear in the company's own announcement, so the specifics are not confirmed by these sources.

"I know GLP-1s work — I've seen it for myself," Barkley said in the release. "The hard part was getting the medication when I needed it. That's where Ro comes in – they make it easy" ^[1][2]. Ro co-founder and CEO Zach Reitano said Barkley "understands the power of GLP-1s, and needed a partner to help him stay on track with treatment," and added that "weight loss isn't always linear" ^[1][2].

The ads emphasize the convenience of Ro's digital experience, including access to GLP-1 medications and a free tool to check insurance coverage before starting ^[1][2]. The release's safety information link points to Zepbound, the tirzepatide brand approved for weight management ^[1][2]. Ro also said it would work with Barkley's production company, Round Mound Media, on obesity education projects, and framed the partnership around health equity and reaching "underserved communities" ^[1][2]. Ro describes itself as offering nationwide telehealth, labs and pharmacy services and says it has served patients in nearly every US county since 2017, including 98% of "primary care deserts" ^[1][2].

The release does not disclose how much Barkley is being paid, how long the deal runs, or whether he receives free or discounted medication ^[1][2].

Why it matters for patients

This was the start of a paid-ambassador model that has since become common in GLP-1 marketing. For patients, the practical point is that an ad featuring a famous person's weight-loss story is a commercial message from a company that sells access to the medication, not a clinical recommendation. The person in the ad is being compensated, even when the story is genuine.

Two details in the announcement are worth noticing because they reflect common experiences. First, access problems: Ro says Barkley stopped because of "ongoing supply and access issues" during the period of nationwide GLP-1 shortages ^[1][2]. Second, weight regain after stopping: the release says he "regained much of the weight" ^[1][2]. Both are framed by the company as reasons to sign up for its service, but they are also real limits of this class of drugs that any prospective patient will hear about from a prescriber.

The announcement also highlights insurance checks up front ^[1][2], a reminder that coverage — not just a prescription — often determines whether someone can stay on treatment. Costs, coverage terms and eligibility are not described in these sources.

What happens next

Ro said that "over the coming years," Barkley, Round Mound Media and Ro would share updates on his progress and run awareness campaigns ^[1][2]. No milestones or end date were announced. Ro's newsroom also lists later announcements that it now offers Eli Lilly's Zepbound KwikPen and Foundayo (orforglipron), though dates for those launches are not given in the material provided ^[1].