Women who lose weight using GLP-1 medications are judged more harshly than those who lose weight through diet and exercise, according to a study published on April 9 in the American Psychological Association's journal Stigma & Health. The research, conducted by Post as part of her doctoral training at George Washington University, found that negative reactions toward medication-assisted weight loss were driven largely by beliefs that such methods are a "shortcut."
The study matters because more than 100 million people in America are clinically eligible to use GLP-1 medications—such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro or Zepbound—for weight loss. Approximately 18% of U.S. adults currently use or have previously used a GLP-1 drug.
Researchers recruited 402 U.S. women ages 30 to 49 who identified as Black or white and reported being overweight or having obesity. Participants read scenarios about a woman named Evette who lost 15% of her body weight either through diet and exercise or with a GLP-1 medication; Evette was depicted as either Black or white in accompanying photos pre-tested for perceptual similarity.
Participants rated Evette on dimensions including fat phobia, dislike, blame, desire for social distance, and whether they believed she took a "shortcut." The findings showed higher levels of stigma when Evette lost weight with medication rather than lifestyle changes. Shortcut beliefs predicted increased fat phobia and social distance regardless of the participant’s own race.
Unexpectedly, stigma was also higher when Evette was portrayed as white rather than Black. When shown as both white and using GLP-1s for weight loss, participants were more likely to endorse shortcut beliefs leading to greater stigma.
Post said: "Our results show that the 'easy way out' perception does more than spark casual criticism. It can translate into measurable stigma, including fat phobia and a desire for social distance." She added: "Having obesity carries many health challenges including increased risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease... Reducing stigma means challenging the idea that there is only one 'right' way to lose weight... especially for women who face intense social scrutiny related to physical appearance and body size."
The researchers call for better communication strategies about how GLP-1 medications work biologically and urge emphasis on positive health outcomes instead of focusing on method legitimacy.
