Losing weight 'unfairly': why weight-loss drugs are drawing condemnation

Scientists have found that people who use GLP-1 drugs to lose weight may be perceived more negatively than those who have lost weight through diet and exercise. Moreover, in the experiment, such people were rated even worse than those who did not lose weight at all.

Details

The study was conducted by specialists from Rice University, Mayo Clinic and the University of California, Los Angeles. The study was published in the International Journal of Obesity.

Participants were asked to evaluate a fictional person with different weight histories. In one scenario, he lost weight with the help of GLP-1 drugs, in another - thanks to diet and exercise, in the third - did not lose weight at all.

The results showed a clear difference in perception. People who used GLP-1 supplements were viewed more negatively by the participants than those who lost weight the "traditional" way.

What was most unexpected was that people who lost weight using the drug were perceived worse, even compared to those who did not lose weight at all.

According to the authors, this is due to the common perception that the use of such drugs is an "easy way" or "dishonest" weight loss. That is, the stigma does not disappear after weight loss, but simply changes shape.

Why it matters

The study shows a paradox: society may judge a person for being overweight, but then also judge them for the way they try to lose that weight.

This is especially important against the backdrop of the growing popularity of GLP-1 drugs. For many people, they are becoming a medical tool, but the public perception around them maintains a moral judgement: that 'proper' weight loss is only possible through willpower, diet and sport.

This stigma can be detrimental to health. If a person fears judgement, they may withhold treatment, avoid talking to their doctor, or feel guilty about their own choices.

The researchers also studied the situation when a person stops taking the drug and regains weight. It turned out that gaining weight after losing weight also elicits negative evaluations - regardless of whether the person lost weight through medication or dieting.

Background

GLP-1 drugs were originally used to treat type 2 diabetes, and then began to be used for weight control. They affect appetite and satiety mechanisms, helping some patients significantly reduce body weight.

But the new study does not evaluate the effectiveness or safety of these drugs. Its focus is not on medicine, but on social perception: how people around them feel about people who use such weight loss products.

The authors emphasise that stigma around bodies and medical decisions does not help people to take care of their health. A person should be able to choose the appropriate treatment with their doctor without fear of being judged.

Source

The study by Erin C. Standen, Sean Phelan and Janet Tomiyama An experimental investigation of the stigmatisation of weight loss and regain from GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cessation published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2026. The authors studied how people rated weight loss with GLP-1 medication, weight loss through diet and exercise, no weight loss, and weight regain.