GLP-1 drugs boost women's employment by 27 points, more than a college degree
GLP-1 drugs linked to bigger jump in women’s employment than a college degree
A Harvard working paper finds that women who started GLP-1 weight-loss drugs while unemployed saw their employment rate jump by nearly 27 percentage points over 18 months, a bigger gap than the employment difference between women with a high school diploma and those with a college degree. The study suggests weight bias may affect hiring, as the effect isn't due to increased capability but likely to changes in appearance.
The research does not suggest that losing weight made these women smarter, more capable or better qualified for work. Instead, it raises questions about whether changes in appearance may affect how women are perceived by employers.