A recent study suggests GLP-1-related weight loss may improve some women’s relationships and employment status.

Rebecca Diamond, professor of economics at Harvard University in Boston, independently published research that found an association between weight-loss medications and a change in women’s social and economic outcomes.

Diamond used the Understanding America Study, a panel survey from the University of Southern California, to compare women who started GLP-1s for weight loss to those who wanted to start but had not yet done so.

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The comparison considered body mass, health, income, employment, partnership status and well-being before treatment.

The study focused on women because they are more likely to use GLP-1s than men. It excluded people taking GLP-1 drugs for diabetes, as their use is driven by a medical condition rather than weight-loss demand.

Women who successfully lost weight with GLP-1 medications experienced changes across several life outcomes, including employment, marriage and cohabitation, according to the study.

Marriage and cohabitation rose 29% for single women after about 18 months.

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Among women who were not employed at the start of the study, job prospects increased by 27% after the same amount of time. Those who were already employed did not display any clear upward progress in their careers, however.

Diamond argues that these findings suggest part of the “female obesity penalty” comes from how people are judged when being matched up, either in a new relationship or a new job.

Dr. Peter Balazs, MD, a hormone and weight-loss specialist from New York and New Jersey, commented on these findings.

“The effects showed up during ‘new match’ situations, such as job interviews or dating, and not within existing jobs or relationships,” Balazs, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “This says more about societal bias than it does about the medication itself.”

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Balazs said his patients often report feeling more confident and “visible” after weight loss, which could translate into better interview performance and networking.

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“Weight loss (commonly) improves confidence, which opens new business and relationship opportunities,” he went on. “Weight loss has hormonal impacts as well, so the normalization of hormones and the profound metabolic and psychological relief that comes with it can be a factor, too.”

Dr. Krishna Vyas, a plastic surgeon at Blechman Plastic Surgery in New York, told Fox News Digital in a separate interview that many patients seek breast lifts or body contouring after significant GLP-1 weight loss, after which they find themselves “re-engaging with life.”

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“That confidence effect is real in the exam room,” said the surgeon, who also was not involved in the research. “This study, however, showed no clear improvement in depression, loneliness or life satisfaction, even as marriage and employment rates climbed dramatically.”

“The opportunities opened, yet the women didn’t report feeling better, which suggests it was largely the gatekeepers who changed, not the women.”

Potential limitations

Because this was an observational study rather than a randomized clinical trial, it could only show an association — not cause and effect. The findings are also considered preliminary because the paper has not yet been peer-reviewed, the author acknowledged.

“Additionally, since the study only looked at women, that introduces another layer of potential bias,” Balazs noted. “I’d be interested to see whether the findings would be the same if the study included men or compared them directly.”

Another limitation is that the information from the individuals studied was self-reported, the expert noted. 

The researchers were also unable to determine whether people who found new jobs were earning more money.

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“Additionally, even though GLP-1 users appeared to have better outcomes on paper, they did not report greater overall life satisfaction,” Balazs added. “That raises important questions about whether these external changes translate into meaningful improvements in well-being.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researcher and multiple human resources organizations requesting comment.

New York City health officials announced Friday that the first person has died in connection with a growing Legionnaires’ disease outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side as the number of confirmed infections continued to rise.

“I am saddened to report that one person has died in connection with the Legionnaires’ disease community cluster on the Upper East Side,” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said in a statement.

“My deepest condolences are with their loved ones, and out of respect to their personal privacy, we will not be releasing any additional information on the individual.”

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The death comes as the outbreak has sickened 67 people as of Thursday night, up from 63 cases reported a day earlier. Twelve people remain hospitalized, according to city health officials.

Investigators are tracing the outbreak to Legionella pneumophila bacteria found in 76 cooling towers across the Upper East Side and one on the Upper West Side. Buildings that tested positive, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.

Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which naturally occurs in water but can multiply in building water systems such as cooling towers. The illness can be treated with antibiotics if diagnosed early.

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Cooling towers, commonly found on rooftops, help regulate large building cooling systems and can release mist containing the bacteria. Health officials have emphasized that the outbreak is not linked to New York City’s drinking water or indoor air conditioning.

Health officials urged anyone who lives, works or has visited the affected area since late June and develops flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider immediately.

Symptoms typically appear two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and headaches. The disease spreads through contaminated water droplets and is not spread from person to person.

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Older adults, smokers and people with chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems face the highest risk of severe illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 10 people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease die from complications.

City health officials said early diagnosis and prompt treatment with antibiotics can significantly improve outcomes for patients who become infected.

Health officials are warning that what many people dismiss as a routine summer stomach bug may actually be cyclosporiasis, as the U.S. experiences one of its largest foodborne parasite outbreaks on record.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed more than 1,600 domestic cases of cyclosporiasis since May, with over 5,100 additional cases currently under investigation.

The intestinal infection is caused by Cyclospora (Cyclospora cayetanensis), a microscopic parasite that spreads through contaminated food or water.

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The outbreak has sickened thousands of people, particularly in Midwestern states such as Michigan and Ohio, causing prolonged bouts of severe gastrointestinal illness.

Symptoms usually begin about one week after consuming contaminated food or water, although the incubation period can range from about two days to two weeks, according to the CDC.

Early symptoms can overlap with those of a common viral stomach bug, including abdominal pain, nausea and watery diarrhea. Some patients also experience loss of appetite, fatigue and weight loss.

The primary differences lie in how long the illness lasts and how severe the symptoms become, according to Dr. Kenneth Perry, an emergency physician based in South Carolina.

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Routine stomach bugs are typically short-lived, resolving within 24 to 48 hours, the doctor said. Even if mild symptoms linger, patients generally feel better after two days.

“Cyclospora is different in this regard,” Perry told Fox News Digital. “It lasts longer, with far more profound watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and abdominal cramping.”

It is possible to test for Cyclospora, but healthcare providers must specifically request it, as the parasite is not routinely included in standard stool testing and many gastrointestinal PCR panels do not detect it, according to the CDC.

Diagnosis is made by examining stool specimens, although patients may need to submit several samples collected on different days, as even symptomatic people may not shed enough of the parasite for it to be readily detected, per the above source.

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If symptoms strongly suggest Cyclospora despite an initial negative test, the screening may need to be repeated, Perry noted.

A primary care physician is often the best point of contact for patients seeking a diagnosis, as most routine stool tests performed in emergency departments do not screen for Cyclospora. A family doctor can order the specialized test if it’s suspected.

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“The emergency department is the appropriate setting for treating downstream symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea and dehydration,” Perry told Fox News Digital.

People who suspect they have contracted the parasite can also check FDA and CDC food safety alerts to see whether they may have been exposed to a recalled or implicated product.

Patients should also focus on staying hydrated by monitoring their urine output. Perry recommends using over-the-counter pediatric formulas, which offer a more effective salt-to-sugar ratio than commercial sports drinks.

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Anyone whose diarrhea lasts more than two to three days, worsens or is accompanied by signs of dehydration should contact a primary care physician.

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Unlike most viral stomach bugs, Cyclospora is treatable with prescription antibiotics. The CDC recommends trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) as the standard treatment, while people who cannot take sulfa drugs should discuss alternatives with their healthcare provider.