A new study from Rice University, the Mayo Clinic, and UCLA reveals that people using GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy face significant social stigma-sometimes worse than the judgment for not losing weight at all.
Researchers surveyed over 1,300 U.S. adults, presenting them with fictional profiles. Those who lost weight with GLP-1 drugs were perceived as lazier, less healthy, less disciplined, and less appealing to be around compared to those who lost weight through diet and exercise.
Strikingly, GLP-1 users were rated more harshly on positive traits like honesty and generosity than those who never lost weight. Participants even preferred spending time with characters who hadn't lost weight over those using the medications.
Lead author Erin Standen warns this stigma may deter people from starting or continuing effective treatment. The study is published in the International Journal of Obesity.
