A new study suggests that GLP-1 weight loss drugs may significantly improve job prospects for women. The research, authored by Harvard economist Rebecca Diamond, found that unemployed women who took medications like Ozempic and Wegovy saw their employment rate jump by 27% after 18 months.
The findings, published in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper, drew on data from a University of Southern California study surveying more than 10,000 adults. Diamond compared women who started taking GLP-1s against those interested but not yet using the drugs. “The estimates show that GLP-1 weight loss changes outcomes on precisely the margins where visible body weight should affect first impressions,” Diamond wrote.
Diamond told Bloomberg and Business Insider that the idea for the research came after a friend reported being treated differently after losing weight on a GLP-1. The study highlights how visible weight loss may alter first impressions in hiring settings, potentially reducing weight-based discrimination.
The research raises questions about fairness and bias in hiring. While weight loss may improve individual outcomes, it also underscores persistent societal biases against body size. Critics might argue that the study’s reliance on self-reported data and lack of peer review limit its reliability.
This study adds to a growing body of work examining the social and economic impacts of GLP-1 drugs beyond their primary medical use. As these medications become more widespread, their effects on labor markets and social dynamics warrant closer scrutiny.