GLP-1 drugs and the ‘female obesity penalty’

Women who take GLP-1 weight loss drugs significantly boost their success in both employment and romance. In a research paper titled, “GLP-1 Weight Loss and the Female Obesity Penalty,” Harvard Professor of Economics Rebecca Diamond finds that single women’s marriage/cohabitation rates rose 29% and employment increased 27% after 18 months on the drugs. It also found that women who were already employed showed no upward job mobility. “Body weight is a visible health trait that may affect health mobility and productivity or how others treat a person,” Diamond writes, adding that it’s well documented that heavier women earn less and are less likely to marry or cohabit. She also notes that fewer men take the drugs primarily for weight loss. “These patterns help interpret the female obesity penalty.”