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As a Gen Xer who lived through the “heroin chic” years, when skeletal models were celebrated for jutting bones and sallow skin, the recent popularity of the #Y2KSkinny trend fills me with dread. This return of size 00 bodies is fuelled by the fashion industry, looksmaxxing and SkinnyTok influencers who promote thinness as wellness. But increasingly, the biggest driver is a drug class: GLP-1s. A-list celebrities are now openly using drugs like Ozempic for weight loss instead of the medical conditions they were designed for, and that visibility has trickled down. Young women are experimenting with GLP-1s to lose a few pounds, sometimes with disastrous health effects, while telehealth companies provide frictionless access to these medications. The brand names – Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy – have become part of our everyday vocabulary. At the same time, there’s an insatiable appetite for stories about influencers with “Ozempic Face” or ghastly thin bodies. People using these medications are sometimes “Ozempic shamed” for relying on medications instead of diet and exercise, even as GLP-1s are also charged with contributing to fatphobia. In this fraught environment, disclosing GLP-1 use to a date or romantic partner can be difficult. When we’ve been socialized to feel ashamed about having a body that is larger than the “ideal,” one we’ve struggled to “manage,” being open about using Ozempic can put us in a vulnerable, no-win position. Although very little independent, peer-reviewed research exists on this topic as of yet, a recent self-published survey by ZipHealth – a telehealth company that sells GLP-1 access – offers a snapshot of how some people think about disclosing GLP-1 use when dating.  

Dating while on GLP-1s

ZipHealth surveyed 1,000 single Americans, including women (50.9 per cent), men (46.2 per cent) and non-binary people (2.6 per cent). A little over 480 participants identified as millennials, 342 as Gen Z and 149 as Gen X. Of this sample group, 5.1 per cent were on a GLP-1 drug and 4.2 per cent had previously used them. Seventy-four per cent dated while using the medications and reported positive outcomes. They went on 60 per cent more dates per month than before starting the treatment. Fifty-four per cent said they felt more confident in their bodies, and 28 per cent reported having more sex. Over half of respondents who used or were currently on GLP-1s disclosed to their dates or partners. Around 85 per cent of them received a neutral or positive reaction. This reflects the normalization of medicalized weight loss and aligns with recent research that demonstrates increasingly positive and supportive feelings about Ozempic in online spaces. However, 43 per cent did not disclose GLP-1 use to a current date or romantic partner. Multiple reasons were provided: 19 per cent explained that it feels too personal, 17 per cent said it’s not relevant to the relationship, 12 per cent were embarrassed about not losing weight “naturally” and 10 per cent were concerned that others will think they took the “easy way out.” These findings correspond with stigmatizing cultural beliefs about overweight people being lazy or lacking self-discipline when it comes to losing weight. Recently published research found that GLP-1 users are perceived as less moral, presumably because they are thought to have exerted less effort to lose weight.  

Whose business is it?

Interestingly, one-quarter of the ZipHealth survey sample said that people should never be expected to disclose their GLP-1 use. Respondents also indicated that disclosure is a private matter versus a public obligation. This raises ethical questions regarding confidentiality and the disclosure of private medical information. Should people share this personal information at all? And if so, when? Is concealing it analogous to catfishing or providing false information about ourselves to a romantic partner? Reality isn’t always clear-cut, and whether it’s family, friends or co-workers, this kind of private health information can get leaked in messy ways. After an online social media post I made about working on this article, people reached out to me to share their GLP-1 disclosure experiences. One woman recounted that she regularly told people about the medication as a way of celebrating her weight loss and building her confidence. Eventually she stopped disclosing to her dates, for two reasons: “My body is a normal size now and they would never think I was fat” and several dates shared offensive fatphobic comments.  

No easy answers

Although dating is exciting, it can also be anxiety-provoking when appearance and body image pressures come into play. GLP-1s are revolutionizing the weight loss landscape, but our mixed feelings about them mean that disclosing their use while dating is not a straightforward or easy experience. The ZipHealth survey, although small in size, gives a glimpse into how GLP-1 use can enhance a person’s confidence and lead to more successful dating experiences. But less than half of participants who used these medications shared this information with their dates. Their reluctance points to a stigma related to fatness and deeply held beliefs about losing weight the “right way” – through dieting and exercise. Treena Orchard, Associate Professor, School of Health Studies, Western University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Expert Insight reflects the perspective and scholarly interest of Western faculty members and is not an articulation of official university policy on issues being addressed.