GLP-1 drugs linked to bigger jump in women’s employment than a college degree

A Harvard study found that women taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs experienced a 27-percentage-point increase in employment rates within 18 months—a larger gap than the employment difference between women with high school and college degrees. The research suggests weight bias in hiring decisions rather than increased qualifications, as women who lost weight were perceived differently by employers. The findings highlight longstanding economic penalties associated with weight, particularly for women, with previous research showing overweight women earn significantly less than their peers.