Do Men or Women Face More GLP-1 Stigma?

But as these medications have become more common, so has the conversation — and sometimes the judgment — surrounding them. According to an Everyday Health survey of 501 adults with type 2 diabetes, 64 percent of current users of GLP-1s and 62 percent of past users reported experiencing at least some sort of stigma or negative reaction since they started taking GLP-1s. Only about 1 in 3 respondents reported feeling no stigma at all.

One reason may be the persistent perception that taking a GLP-1 is the easy way out, says Alpana Shukla, MD, director of clinical research at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center with NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. “The notion that weight loss is a matter of willpower runs very deep, despite ample evidence to the contrary,” she says. “We generally do not apply the same judgment to someone taking medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or other medications for diabetes.”

The intense public attention surrounding GLP-1s lately may also contribute to the stigma, Dr. Shukla says.

Although most respondents taking GLP-1s reported satisfaction with their treatment (83 percent), many had received negative reactions from others.

Among current GLP-1 users surveyed who reported some form of stigma:

• 19 percent felt judged by others for using a medication that also helps with weight loss.
• 19 percent avoided disclosing they were on the drug out of fear of potential judgment.
• 18 percent felt pressure to justify their choice.
• 17 percent felt others viewed them as taking the easy way out.
• 17 percent worried that others did not view their weight loss as an accomplishment because they took the medication.

Stigma was more prevalent among GLP-1 users who were newly diagnosed than among those who had been on the drug and managing the condition for some time. More than half (55 percent) of seasoned patients with GLP-1 experience, those who lived with the disease for 10 or more years, reported no stigma at all, versus 23 percent of GLP-1 users who were newly diagnosed. This points to the idea that the stigma burden falls most heavily on individuals who are early on in their treatment journey.

One explanation is that patients may see positive health changes and become more comfortable and confident in their treatment decision. “Patients may initially worry about how family, friends, or colleagues will react to their decision to use medication, and as treatment becomes part of their routine, they may become less concerned about those reactions,” Shukla says.

Another possible explanation is normalization. “As more people use these medications and patients encounter others who have had similar experiences, taking a GLP-1 medication may begin to feel more normal,” Shukla says.

The stigma associated with taking GLP-1s was stronger among younger users, according to Everyday Health survey respondents. Gen Z and millennial respondents reported higher rates of several forms of stigma than Gen Xers and baby boomers.

Baby boomers were much more likely than the other groups to report experiencing no stigma, at 69 percent.

Men were more likely than women to report experiencing many forms of stigma, according to our survey. Among male respondents:

• 23 percent felt judged (versus 12 percent of women).
• 21 percent felt others thought they took the easy way out (versus 13 percent of women).
• 22 percent felt the need to explain themselves for taking the medication (versus 13 percent of women).

The survey also found differences by race and ethnicity. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) respondents were more likely than white respondents to report certain forms of stigma, with BIPOC respondents being significantly more likely to report feeling judged than white respondents (24 versus 14 percent). Twenty-three percent of BIPOC respondents felt the need to explain themselves (versus 15 percent of white respondents), and 22 percent felt embarrassed discussing their medication (compared with 9 percent of white respondents).

If you’re feeling embarrassed or judged for being on a GLP-1 medication, there are a few things you can do to cope:

• Zero in on your why. Are you taking a GLP-1 to treat type 2 diabetes, obesity, or another health concern? Keep those reasons in mind when someone else’s opinion starts to get to you. “Patients should recognize that using medication to treat obesity or type 2 diabetes is a medical decision, not a moral one,” Shukla says.
• Recognize your progress. “It is a marathon, not a sprint, and your success has required pulling all the forces together: medication, nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral strategies,” Shukla says.
• Don’t feel pressured to share. “Whether you discuss your medication — and with whom — is entirely your choice,” Shukla says.

Source: Everyday Health Type 2 Diabetes/GLP-1 Patient Survey, N= 501, August 5-13, 2026