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Weight-Loss Drugs Boost Employment for Unemployed Women, Study Finds

From CBS News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • Unemployed women taking weight-loss drugs like GLP-1s saw a significant increase in employment, according to new research.
  • After 18 months, these women experienced a 27 percentage-point rise in employment compared to those not using the drugs.
  • The study also noted increased marriage and cohabitation rates among women using the drugs, but no evidence of career advancement for already employed women.

New research suggests that weight-loss medications, specifically GLP-1s, may significantly improve employment prospects for unemployed women. A study by Harvard economist Rebecca Diamond, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found that women who took these drugs experienced a 27 percentage-point increase in employment after 18 months, compared to a control group of women who did not use the medications.

If medical weight loss changes how women are treated in markets, then unequal access to the drugs may also shape who can avoid the social and economic penalties attached to body size.

— Rebecca DiamondDiscussing the implications of unequal access to weight-loss drugs.

This finding adds to existing research on the "obesity penalty," which disproportionately affects heavier women in the labor market, leading to lower earnings and fewer job callbacks. Diamond's research also indicated a 29 percentage-point rise in marriage and cohabitation rates among women using GLP-1 treatments over the same 18-month period. However, the study found no evidence that the drugs helped already employed women secure raises or promotions.

Diamond's research, which utilized the Understanding America Study, a nationally representative survey, also raises concerns about equitable access to these drugs. She noted that early adopters are often "disproportionately financially advantaged." This disparity could exacerbate existing inequalities, shaping who can avoid the social and economic penalties associated with body size. "It is also unsettling to think about using medical treatment as a possible remedy for discrimination," Diamond wrote.

It is also unsettling to think about using medical treatment as a possible remedy for discrimination.

— Rebecca DiamondExpressing concern about the use of medical treatments to address societal issues.

The study observed that employment gains were gradual, building as individuals became slimmer. The majority of these gains came from workers who were previously unemployed finding jobs, rather than from those returning from retirement or disability. By the end of 2024, 6% of all women had started using a GLP-1 for weight loss, with uptake being higher among women with a history of obesity (9%).

Women not employed at baseline also move into work.

— Rebecca DiamondDescribing employment gains observed in the study.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CBS News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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