Study Links Starting GLP-1 Weight-Loss Drugs to Higher Marriage and Cohabitation Rates
A new NBER working paper finds that women who begin GLP-1 weight-loss medication are significantly more likely to get married or start living with a partner.
In a working paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Harvard researcher Rebecca Diamond examined how initiating GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic or Wegovy influences personal relationships. Using the Understanding America Study cohort, she contrasted women who began the drugs for weight loss with those who expressed interest but did not start. Among participants who were single when they started, the probability of marrying or cohabiting rose by 18 percentage points overall and by 29 points after at least six quarters.
The study found no significant change for women already partnered, suggesting the effect is tied to weight-related first impressions rather than broader well-being. Diamond also noted that starting GLP-1s helped unemployed women obtain jobs but did not affect career advancement for those already employed, and it did not alter measures of depression, loneliness, or life satisfaction. While the findings hint that weight loss may boost romantic prospects, the author cautions that the relationship remains correlational.
Why it matters
The research suggests a popular weight-loss drug could have unexpected social benefits, influencing marriage trends and employment outcomes.
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