Weight-Loss Drugs Linked to Increased Employment and Social Outcomes for Unemployed Women, Study Reveals
New research indicates that unemployed women using GLP-1 medications for weight loss experience a significant increase in employment rates. According to a recent paper by Harvard economist Rebecca Diamond, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, unemployed women taking these drugs saw a 27 percentage point rise in employment after 18 months of use. This is compared to women who desired to use the drugs but had not yet done so. The study also found a 29 percentage point increase in marriage and cohabitation rates for these women over the same period. These findings contribute to existing research on the 'obesity penalty,' which disproportionately affects heavier women, leading to lower earnings and reduced likelihood of marriage or cohabitation. While GLP-1 usage appears to impact economic and social outcomes for unemployed women, the research did not find evidence that the drugs helped already employed women advance their careers through raises or promotions. The study utilized the Understan... 
