Harvard Study Links GLP-1 Use to 27% Higher Employment for Women, 29% More Partnering
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 22
Harvard Study Links GLP-1 Use to 27% Higher Employment for Women, 29% More Partnering
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 22
Summary
Rebecca Diamond’s preprint found women taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs were 27% more likely to be employed after 18 months if initially unemployed, while single users were 29% more likely to be married or cohabiting.
The paper argues those gains may reflect social and labor-market penalties tied to women’s weight, building on prior research showing heavier women earn less, work less and face bias in hiring and dating.
Diamond compared GLP-1 users with women who wanted the drugs but had not started, then matched the groups to adjust for differences in education, income and mental health.
The study is not randomized and has not been peer-reviewed, leaving open the possibility that women who took the drugs differed from nonusers in other ways that also improved employment or relationship outcomes.
The findings add to evidence that GLP-1 benefits may extend beyond health conditions such as heart disease and sleep apnea, suggesting weight loss could also affect social mobility.