Can taking weight-loss drugs help you get hired? Yes, if you're a woman.

Key Points:

• New research by Harvard economist Rebecca Diamond shows that unemployed women taking GLP-1 weight-loss drugs experienced a 27 percentage point increase in employment after 18 months compared to those who wanted but hadn't used the drugs.
• The study highlights an "obesity penalty" where heavier women face economic and social disadvantages, including lower earnings and fewer partnerships, but GLP-1 users saw a 29 percentage point rise in marriage and cohabitation rates.
• The employment gains were mainly among previously unemployed women who found jobs as they lost weight, while already employed women did not see career advancement from using the drugs.
• Access to GLP-1 drugs is uneven, with early adopters often being financially advantaged, raising concerns about unequal opportunities to avoid discrimination linked to body size.
• The findings suggest that weight loss through medical treatment can influence social and economic outcomes, but also raise ethical questions about relying on medical solutions to address discrimination.