GLP-1 Study Lifts Single Women’s Marriage Odds 29 Points and Employment 27 Points
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
GLP-1 Study Lifts Single Women’s Marriage Odds 29 Points and Employment 27 Points
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 8
Summary
A new Rebecca Diamond working paper found single women who started GLP-1s for weight loss were 18 percentage points more likely to marry or cohabit overall, rising to 29 points after six or more quarters.
Women who were not employed when they began the drugs also saw employment rise 13 percentage points overall and 27 points after six or more quarters, with weekly hours up by nearly 10.
The study compared women ages 25 to 61 who started GLP-1s with women who wanted to start but had not; both groups had baseline BMIs around 35, at the low end of Class 2 obesity.
Diamond found little change for women already employed or already partnered, suggesting the biggest effects appear where employers or prospective partners are forming first impressions.
The findings were cited in a broader debate over GLP-1 use after Caroline Calloway described taking Ozempic despite not being overweight, arguing the drugs expose how strongly thinness still shapes women’s social and economic outcomes.
Do weight-loss drugs give women a fairer shot, or just create a costly new standard for social acceptance?
If a woman's career boost is tied to a drug, does her success vanish when she stops taking it?
With GLP-1 overdose reports soaring, who is liable when unregulated online prescriptions cause serious harm?
GLP-1 Obesity Drugs and the New Social Divide: How 18% of U.S. Adults—Especially Single Women—Are Experiencing Profound Social, Economic, and Ethical Shifts
Overview
The report highlights how the rising use of GLP-1 obesity drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro is reshaping health and social dynamics in the U.S., especially for women. Usage is notably higher among women, particularly those aged 50-64. Groundbreaking research by Rebecca Diamond, using data from the Understanding America Study, shows that women who start GLP-1s not only lose weight but also see greater chances of finding new jobs and forming new relationships. These changes point to a significant transformation in social and economic opportunities, driven by both the physical effects of the drugs and shifting societal perceptions.