An experimental investigation of the stigmatization of weight loss and regain from GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cessation
Authors' conclusion
These findings suggest that people may face stigma across the cycle of losing and regaining weight after using a GLP-1
Study context
- Population
- Participants evaluating a fictional target after reading a brief description of the target's weight-related history; Study 1 N = 607, Study 2 N = 7062 experiments
- Comparison
- Fictional target's weight history: GLP-1 RA weight loss/regain vs diet and exercise vs no weight loss vs maintained weight loss
- Primary endpoint
- Weight-related stereotyping and willingness to affiliate with the target
Methodological detailstwo randomized experiments, between-subjects
- Two randomized experiments
- Between-subjects
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Study 1: willingness to affiliate with target
Mean difference (95% CI)
Study 1: Diet/exercisevs Study 1: GLP-1
0.52(0.27–0.76)
Study 1: No weight lossvs Study 1: GLP-1
0.26(0.02–0.51)
- Willingness to affiliate differed significantly across groups
- P < 0.001
Further findings
Study 1: overall evaluation of target
- GLP-1 target evaluated more negatively than diet/exercise and no weight loss targets
Study 2: evaluation of target after weight regain
- GLP-1 and diet/exercise targets both rated more negatively than target who maintained weight loss
- ps ≤ 0.001
- GLP-1 and diet/exercise targets evaluated similarly
Original publication
An experimental investigation of the stigmatization of weight loss and regain from GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cessation. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 3 April 2026. doi:10.
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