If you saw Charles Barkley in a weight-loss ad, the company is Ro, a telehealth service that sells GLP-1 weight-loss medicines through a monthly membership. Ro named Barkley its GLP-1 celebrity ambassador in April 2025, and Ro said his ads would highlight its app, medication access and a free insurance coverage check before you sign up. Ro’s own page says the medicine is not included in the membership cost, so the total is more than the membership fee. The Research Team lays out what the ads show, what the program includes, what it costs and how refunds work, so you can decide with the facts in front of you.
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What are Charles Barkley’s Ro ads for?
Ro’s partnership release, distributed by PR Newswire on 2025-04-29, names Barkley an NBA Hall of Famer and broadcaster and Ro’s GLP-1 celebrity ambassador. Ro’s partnership release on PR Newswire says Barkley shed close to 50 pounds on his first course of a GLP-1 medication, stopped when supply and access problems got in the way, regained much of that weight, and is restarting with Ro. It says Barkley will star in a series of new ads built around his personality and off-the-cuff commentary. Ro says those ads highlight its digital experience, GLP-1 medication access and a free insurance coverage check before signing up. Ro also says it will work with Barkley’s production company, Round Mound Media, on obesity-education projects.
In the release, Barkley says he has seen GLP-1s work for himself (“I’ve seen it for myself”). He says the hard part was getting the medicine when he needed it, and that Ro “make[s] it easy.” He also says he does not have to jump through hoops, because his treatment is handled.
What the ads show compared with what the program includes
Ro’s Ro weight loss page describes the program the ads point to. The table pairs each ad message with what that page lists.
| What the ad highlights | What the program includes (per Ro’s weight loss page) |
|---|---|
| Ro’s digital experience | Medication shipped to your door, weight tracking and dose logging, and unlimited provider messaging |
| GLP-1 medication access | Access to FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, prescribed if appropriate for your health history and coverage |
| A free insurance coverage check before signing up | Ro checks your insurance for GLP-1 coverage. If prior authorization is needed, its insurance concierge submits the paperwork. If it is not covered, the provider suggests cash-pay FDA-approved options. The page says this takes about 1 to 2 weeks. |
| Barkley’s line about his treatment being handled | Ongoing check-ins with a Ro-affiliated provider, 1:1 health coaching, side effect management and titration support |
Forbes columnist Joshua P. Cohen argues that telehealth firms such as Ro work under different advertising rules than drug makers, so viewers do not get a full walk-through of side effects and the complete risk-benefit picture. That is the columnist’s view. For the full safety picture, read Ro’s safety information page, which Ro says includes the boxed warning.
Which medicines can Ro prescribe, and who decides?
Ro’s weight loss page lists six medicines: the Wegovy pill, Zepbound KwikPen, Foundayo pill, Wegovy pen, Zepbound pen and Ozempic. The page says medication is prescribed “if appropriate,” depending on your health history and coverage. Ro’s partnership release names no drug, and its safety link points to a Zepbound safety page.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains on its NIDDK page on prescription weight medicines that a health care professional may prescribe these medicines for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or with a BMI of 27 or more when a weight-related problem such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes is present. NIDDK adds that they “aren’t for everyone with a high BMI.” It also says “Choosing a medication to treat overweight or obesity is a decision between you and your health care professional.” Your prescriber makes that call.
| Situation | What NIDDK says |
|---|---|
| Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or MEN 2 | People should not take liraglutide, semaglutide or tirzepatide. Wegovy and Zepbound are the semaglutide and tirzepatide medicines NIDDK lists. |
| Pregnancy | None of these medicines should be taken in pregnancy. |
| BMI below the prescribing range | Prescribing is for adults with a BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related health problem. |
Some online programs sell compounded versions. The FDA says in its FDA warning letter to Hims & Hers: “Compounded drug products are not FDA-approved.” Ro’s page describes its medicines as FDA-approved GLP-1 medications, so ask Ro which product you would receive.
What does Ro cost?
Prices as of 2026-11-11, the figures Ro’s weight loss page printed. Prices change, so check the checkout for today’s.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Ro Body Membership, which gives access to GLP-1 medications |
| Maker | Ro |
| First month | $39 |
| Monthly plan, ongoing | $149 a month |
| Annual plan, prepaid | As low as $74 a month |
| Medication | Not included in the membership cost; depends on treatment and insurance coverage |
| Product Page | Product Page |
Ro’s page makes clear that the membership does not cover the medication, and that the medication cost depends on your treatment and insurance coverage. For a medication price that fits your situation, ask Ro before you enrol.
For comparison, Novo’s Wegovy cost and coverage page lists self-pay prices for its own Wegovy pill as $149 for each month of 1.5 mg, $199 per month for 4 mg, and $299 per month for 9 mg and 25 mg, where one month is one bottle of 30 tablets. With commercial insurance, Novo says “Pay as little as $25, subject to a maximum savings of $100/month.”
How much weight loss does Ro say you could get?
Ro’s weight loss page says you “could lose up to 20% of your weight on average in 1 year.” Ro’s Super Bowl 2026 release says average weight loss through Ro is 14 to 20 percent in a year alongside diet and exercise. The two Ro pages word the figure differently, so ask Ro to confirm the exact number in writing before you decide.
The NIDDK page reports that adults using medication plus a lifestyle program lose on average 3% to 12% more of their starting weight after one year than adults in a lifestyle program alone. Some weight is usually regained after stopping. NIDDK also says “Medications don’t replace physical activity or healthy eating habits as a way to lose weight.” To see how a headline number can differ from the trial behind it, read our piece on trial claims in a press release (our research library).
What has Charles Barkley said about his own use?
NJ.com, writing on 2026-05-27 about Barkley’s comments on truTV’s “The Mac Zone” during Roland Garros, reports that he says he is down about 100 pounds. In the same piece he says: “I take a shot once a week.” On the money side he says: “It’s the only endorsement where I actually lost money,” and “I’m at a financial deficit.” The NJ.com interview on Yahoo Sports also reports that he gives about 25 friends three free months of the medication, as a way to test whether they are serious about losing weight.
These are Barkley’s own words and his own report of his results. They are not study findings.
Does a celebrity ad have to disclose a paid deal?
The Federal Trade Commission’s FTC Endorsement Guides questions say that when an endorser has a connection to the marketer that a significant minority of consumers would not expect, it should be disclosed clearly and conspicuously. Payment or something of value usually counts as such a connection. The Guides also say “An endorsement must reflect the honest opinion of the endorser” and that “endorsements must be honest and not misleading.” The FTC’s example is an endorser claiming to lose 20 pounds in two months. That is above average, so the ad must make clear what results are generally expected unless the advertiser can show the endorser’s result reflects what people generally achieve.
Ro’s partnership release does not show compensation terms, so ask Ro how Barkley is paid before you decide.
Is Ro legit, and what have regulators done about these ads?
Ro is a real company with a listed Better Business Bureau profile and a public Trustpilot page, both covered below. In September 2025, the FDA’s crackdown announcement, September 2025 said the agency was sending thousands of letters asking drug companies to pull misleading ads, along with about 100 cease-and-desist letters to companies with deceptive ads. In March 2026, FDA sent 30 warning letters to telehealth companies over false or misleading claims about compounded GLP-1 products. Those letters went to other companies, and they show what regulators are watching in this space.
When did the Charles Barkley Ro ads run?
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-29 | Ro names Barkley its GLP-1 celebrity ambassador and says he will star in new ads | Ro’s partnership release, PR Newswire |
| 2026-01-28 | Ro announces its first Super Bowl commercial, starring Serena Williams, and lists Barkley among its featured patients | Ro’s Super Bowl 2026 press release |
| 2026-02-08 | Ro’s Super Bowl ad debuts during Super Bowl LX on NBC | Ro’s Super Bowl 2026 press release |
| 2026-05-27 | NJ.com reports that Barkley’s Ro ads air widely on TV | NJ.com via Yahoo Sports |
For the air dates of a specific spot, ask Ro’s support.
Is the Barkley ad the same as the other celebrity GLP-1 ads?
Several celebrity GLP-1 ads ran in the same months, and they are easy to mix up. This table separates them.
| Ad | Who appears | Who runs it | What the source says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ro’s Super Bowl LX ad | Serena Williams | Ro | Ro’s release says it debuted during Super Bowl LX on NBC on 8 February 2026. Fierce Pharma coverage of the Ro ad (2026-01-28) says it shows updates on her health. |
| Wegovy pill Super Bowl ad | Kenan Thompson, DJ Khaled and others | Novo Nordisk | A 90-second ad that aired during the Super Bowl, per the MM+M report on the Wegovy pill ad (February 2026). |
| Hims & Hers Super Bowl LX ad | Narrated by Common | Hims & Hers | Broadcast premiere during the 8 February game, per Fierce Pharma on the Hims ad (2026-01-29). |
| Noom “Lose for Keeps” | Rebel Wilson, Noom’s chief wellness officer | Noom | Two TV spots and in-app features, per Fierce Pharma on the Noom campaign (2026-07-20). |
| eMed | Tom Brady, chief wellness officer | eMed | Named in Boston Globe on Tom Brady and eMed (2026-01-12). |
The FDA letter of 5 February 2026 went to Novo Nordisk about a Wegovy pill ad that ran in January. It was a different ad from the Super Bowl spot, according to RAPS report on the FDA letter.
How do Ro’s cancellation and refund rules work?
These rules come from Ro’s own terms and pages, as of 2026-11-11. Read them against your renewal date before you enrol.
| Situation | What Ro’s terms and pages say |
|---|---|
| Stopping the membership from renewing | Cancel at least 48 hours before your next renewal date. Ro’s terms say that then your Ro Body Membership will not automatically renew on that date, and you will not be charged the membership fee. |
| Membership fees | Ro’s payments section says fees and charges are not refundable in whole or in part, except as set out in its refund policy and terms. |
| Deemed unsuitable or request rejected | If Ro has already charged you and then deems you unsuitable for treatment or rejects your request, you are refunded automatically. Refunds “may take 5 business days or longer to process.” |
| Medication after it ships | “Once your order is shipped, we cannot return it.” Ro’s returns page says “Unfortunately we cannot issue refunds or accept returns of prescription products for reuse or resale, and all sales are final.” |
| Error filling a prescription | If you think Ro made an error filling your prescription, contact Ro. |
| Medication disputes | Refunds, replacements or disputes about products are subject to the policies of the dispensing pharmacy and, where applicable, Lilly. |
The full terms sit on Ro’s returns and refunds page.
What do Ro’s reviews and complaint record look like?
The BBB profile for Ro shows an A+ rating and BBB Accreditation since 2018-07-23, with 355 customer reviews. The profile lists 771 complaints in the last three years and 407 in the last 12 months. Complaint types include product issues (262), service or repair issues (185), billing issues (139), sales and advertising issues (66) and order issues (64). Complaint texts on the page include unclear or unexpected charges, refusals of refunds for used medication or services, and cancelled memberships that still led to shipments or charges. Ro’s replies range from explaining that memberships and medication are billed separately to issuing full or courtesy refunds. BBB says its ratings reflect its opinion of how a business is likely to interact with customers, based on complaint history, transparency and public data.
Ro’s Trustpilot reviews show a TrustScore of 3.9 out of 5 from 7,719 reviews. Trustpilot says Ro replied to 86% of negative reviews, typically within a week. To check any ad’s claims yourself, use our guide to judging health claims and evidence.
What are the other FDA-approved options?
NIDDK lists six medicines that are FDA-approved for long-term weight management. NIDDK says they work best with a lifestyle program.
| Medicine (generic name) | Brand names NIDDK lists |
|---|---|
| Orlistat | Xenical, Alli |
| Phentermine-topiramate | Qsymia |
| Naltrexone-bupropion | Contrave |
| Liraglutide | Saxenda |
| Semaglutide | Wegovy |
| Tirzepatide | Zepbound |
Before you order: questions that settle your next step
- Ask Ro which medicine would be prescribed for you, and whether it is FDA-approved or compounded. The FDA says “Compounded drug products are not FDA-approved.”
- Ask for the total monthly cost, membership plus medication, using your own insurance details.
- Check what your insurance covers. Ro says its check takes about 1 to 2 weeks.
- Write down your renewal date and the 48-hour cancellation window before you enrol.
- Ask how refunds apply if you are charged and then deemed unsuitable for treatment.
- Take your medicine list and health history, including any thyroid cancer or MEN 2 history, to a pharmacist or your prescriber before you decide.
Our guide to health claims in an online course ad includes a reader’s evidence and refund checklist you can apply to any ad.
By HealthDataConsortium.org Research Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
