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Harvard study links GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to a 27-point jump in women's employment — bigger than a college degree gap
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ooli3 sopuli.xyz ooli3@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2025-06-04
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184   Original
faltryka lemmy.world faltryka@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-21
#2 · Quote Reply

I wonder how much of that was confidence changes.

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jballs sh.itjust.works jballs@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-06-13
#3 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

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EntheoNaut lemmy.ml EntheoNaut@lemmy.ml
Joined: 2025-10-22
#4 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

Makes me wonder how biased the study was and how much of Harvard’s portfolio is wrapped up in pharmaceutical stocks.

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VitoRobles lemmy.today VitoRobles@lemmy.today
Joined: 2025-01-26
#5 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

There's also studies that show height is also a predictor of salary. As well as skin color being a predictor of those who get promoted.

DEI was implemented based on those studies because educated black women were constantly passed over, even if they outcompeted their rivals in work competency.

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reallykindasorta slrpnk.net reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net
Joined: 2024-04-19
#6 · (edited) Quote Reply

Makes me wonder how biased the study was and how much of Harvard’s portfolio is wrapped up in pharmaceutical stocks.

I don’t read this one as a total plant, but I don’t think the methodology is great. Using a ucla cohort study that’s been in progress since 2024 (quarterly questionnaires) the author compares two groups.

  1. People who received treatment
  2. People who didn’t receive treatment but indicated that they would like to in future (control group)

Clearly not an excellent control group for the kind of claims she wants to make.

She puts effort into statistically ‘matching’ a bunch of parameters to try to make it a better control group. She also discusses this as a possible issue in the text and tries to give some statistical evidence but I don’t find it very convincing. Doubt it will ultimately get published.

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Sunshine piefed.ca Sunshine@piefed.ca
Joined: 2025-06-07
#7 · Quote Reply

Patriarchy Society

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the_q piefed.social the_q@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-08-04
#8 · Quote Reply

Lol it's hilarious being even sightly aware of the reality of things and reading "water found to make objects wet" articles. Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop.

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Clent lemmy.dbzer0.com Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2024-12-13
#9 · Quote Reply

I don’t read this one as a total plant, but I don’t think the methodology is great. Using a ucla cohort study that’s been in progress since 2024 (quarterly questionnaires) the author compares two groups. People who received treatment People who didn’t receive treatment but indicated that they would like to in future (control group) Clearly not an excellent control group for the kind of claims s...

Clearly not an excellent control group for the kind of claims she wants to make.

You're claiming p-hacking without any proof or qualifications stating why this is so clear to you.

The control group setup is to remove people who have no need for the drug.

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Drusas fedia.io Drusas@fedia.io
Joined: 2024-08-16
#10 · Quote Reply

Did they include data on whether or not and when those women were looking for work and how actively, etc? In other words, might it also be that the women feel better and that this better positions then for increasing a job?

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reallykindasorta slrpnk.net reallykindasorta@slrpnk.net
Joined: 2024-04-19
#11 · Quote Reply

Clearly not an excellent control group for the kind of claims she wants to make. You're claiming p-hacking without any proof or qualifications stating why this is so clear to you. The control group setup is to remove people who have no need for the drug.

I meant to imply the author was in good faith and not an industry plant like other white papers in the journal have been. I actually read the paper and don't feel the need to prove my identity to you in a forum in order to have an opinion. I think it’s obvious and most people in adjacent fields would think so. The author acknowledges it as well which I mentioned. Also said nothing about p-hacking, I definitely don't think that.

This is an unreviewed white paper, they’re putting it out looking for feedback.

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terranoid lemmy.cafe terranoid@lemmy.cafe
Joined: 2026-05-08
#12 · (edited) Quote Reply

Did they include data on whether or not and when those women were looking for work and how actively, etc? In other words, might it also be that the women feel better and that this better positions then for increasing a job?

Confidence does wonders on top of pretty people being treated better. Not surprising at all

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Why is Lemmy so Racist? lemmy.world Abyssian@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-02-13
#13 · Quote Reply

The very simplest of applied psychology.

"...nice."

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Solumbran lemmy.world Solumbran@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-14
#14 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

"That's fucked up. Like, we all know that obviously fatsos are universally fucking ugly but I didn't think it would have such an impact".

How a thing talking about weight immediately switched to being about attractiveness. That is fucked up indeed.

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krashmo lemmy.world krashmo@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-03
#15 · Quote Reply

Lol it's hilarious being even sightly aware of the reality of things and reading "water found to make objects wet" articles. Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop.

Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop.

You would know.

I'm sorry, I had to. I'm sure you're a beautiful soul.

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Mac mander.xyz Mac@mander.xyz
Joined: 2023-06-14
#16 · Quote Reply

Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop. You would know. I'm sorry, I had to. I'm sure you're a beautiful soul.

Note, dear viewer, that said "beautiful soul".
Double-tap.

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ColeSloth discuss.tchncs.de ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2023-08-18
#17 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

I'm a guy. Back when I was really healthy and in shape (after not being) it was super obvious how much better and easier "pretty people" have it.

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iegod lemmy.zip ieGod@lemmy.zip
Joined: 2025-06-04
#18 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

Attractive people are also more confident. This is an important factor in many roles.

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chuckleslord lemmy.world chuckleslord@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-07-12
#19 · Quote Reply

There's also studies that show height is also a predictor of salary. As well as skin color being a predictor of those who get promoted. DEI was implemented based on those studies because educated black women were constantly passed over, even if they outcompeted their rivals in work competency.

I work at a larger company. I'm a tall guy (0th percentile) and there's over a dozen people taller than me in the building. For the amount of people who work here, that number should be between 0 and 8 people taller than me.

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the_q piefed.social the_q@piefed.social
Joined: 2026-08-04
#20 · Quote Reply

Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop. You would know. I'm sorry, I had to. I'm sure you're a beautiful soul.

It's true.

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TubularTittyFrog lemmy.world TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-02-23
#21 · Quote Reply

Attractive people are also more confident. This is an important factor in many roles.

they aren't. they are perceived as more confident.

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egrets lemmy.world egrets@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-14
#22 · Quote Reply

they aren't. they are perceived as more confident.

Actually, attractive people are more confident when the moon is waxing but are perceived as more confident when the moon is waning.

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TubularTittyFrog lemmy.world TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-02-23
#23 · Quote Reply

Actually, attractive people are more confident when the moon is waxing but are perceived as more confident when the moon is waning.

all folks have to do is all change their DOB on their job application to Leo or Aries, because those are the most confident star signs.

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TubularTittyFrog lemmy.world TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-02-23
#24 · Quote Reply

Damn, that's kinda fucked up. We all know there are (mostly) subconscious biases against people we find unattractive. But that's harsh that it shows up as such a big gap.

there is a 10K/yr+ year premium on your height too. we love tall hot people. they get paid the most.

shorties get salary shafted

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taj lemmy.world taj@lemmy.world
Joined: 2023-06-12
#25 · Quote Reply

I'm a guy. Back when I was really healthy and in shape (after not being) it was super obvious how much better and easier "pretty people" have it.

I'm a woman. Over the last 5-10 years I went from ~160-180 to 234 this Jan.The difference in treatment has been staggering. Now down to around 219. Hoping I can continue to lose. Not on a glp-1, though I've definitely considered it.

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Brave Little Hitachi Wand feddit.uk yakko@feddit.uk
Joined: 2025-01-08
#26 · Quote Reply

Note, dear viewer, that said "beautiful soul". Double-tap.

Evidence found at the scene point to a professional hit. Our psychological profilers are looking for a comedian with at least two Netflix specials.

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ColeSloth discuss.tchncs.de ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2023-08-18
#27 · Quote Reply

I'm a woman. Over the last 5-10 years I went from ~160-180 to 234 this Jan.The difference in treatment has been staggering. Now down to around 219. Hoping I can continue to lose. Not on a glp-1, though I've definitely considered it.

Might as well give it a shot (pun intended). Like Half my department and half the spouses are on it. Couple people it didn't work for because they had side effects. I'm not on it, but anything I know it is that if you don't have side effects you can stay on it indefinitely and if anything, it's healthier for you.

I'm only a bit overweight at the moment. My issue is that I need energy and more time at a gym. And a lower back that's 20 years younger.

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ooli3 sopuli.xyz ooli3@sopuli.xyz
Joined: 2025-06-04
#28 · Quote Reply

I wonder how much of that was confidence changes.

strangely this study (https://sopuli.xyz/post/49431591) didnt find any mental positive effect after GLP1 use.

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exasperation lemmy.dbzer0.com exasperation@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2025-06-05
#29 · Quote Reply

This headline and article misrepresent the study's findings, and overstate the evidence for its conclusions. From the abstract, by the study's actual author:

Single women’s marriage/cohabitation rates rise by 29 percentage points and employment among baseline non-employed women rises 27 percentage points after six or more quarters. Existing partnerships do not dissolve, and already-employed women show no upward job mobility. The pattern suggests that part of the female obesity penalty operates at new-match formation rather than only through health or incumbent productivity.

As the overwhelming majority of women in the labor force are actually employed, an effect that is seen only on the unemployed may not be appropriate to extrapolate across the entire population.

In another longitudinal study, also published by the NBER, reports a slight trend that already-employed women have a slight drop in employment when going on GLP-1s, and when evaluated over the entire population, the study's authors conclude that GLP-1s do not have a meaningful effect on employment rates.

Overall, the evidence is much, much weaker than the article's tone suggests.

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BigDanishGuy sh.itjust.works BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works
Joined: 2023-07-03
#30 · Quote Reply

This headline and article misrepresent the study's findings, and overstate the evidence for its conclusions. From the abstract, by the study's actual author: Single women’s marriage/cohabitation rates rise by 29 percentage points and employment among baseline non-employed women rises 27 percentage points after six or more quarters. Existing partnerships do not dissolve, and already-employed wom...

Thank you!

I have nothing but a hunch to back this up: I'd be weary of the potential bias introduced by the medicine price vs available cash in the general unemployed population. The households that can afford glp-1s will likely be socio-economically stronger, thus the unemployed women will be better educated and more likely to be re-employed.

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#31 · (edited) Quote Reply

Evidence found at the scene point to a professional hit. Our psychological profilers are looking for a comedian with at least two Netflix specials.

Do the post-metoo PR-repair ones count? 🙈🙉

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mrmisses lemmy.world mrmisses@lemmy.world
Joined: 2026-02-03
#32 · Quote Reply

Lol it's hilarious being even sightly aware of the reality of things and reading "water found to make objects wet" articles. Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop.

Can confirm

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#33 · (edited) Quote Reply

Might as well give it a shot (pun intended). Like Half my department and half the spouses are on it. Couple people it didn't work for because they had side effects. I'm not on it, but anything I know it is that if you don't have side effects you can stay on it indefinitely and if anything, it's healthier for you. I'm only a bit overweight at the moment. My issue is that I need energy and more t...

FWIW, if it's not a musculoskeletal injury/concern (and their possible neuropathic symptoms), maybe focusing on core & lower back strength at a gentle but regular pace could help you like it has for me.

My spine's survived through 3 rollovers/tumbling crashes, ~10 auto collisions (7 while I was parked/stopped!), a 90ft cliff jump (never again), and teen years @ a McDojo to band a few. I've room for improvement, certainly, but the 237lbs I was at 10/24 is now down to ~170lbs, and I more often feel 20 again!

... until I look at the world around me, ofc. Then, I'm old AF & tired of fighting the Sisyphean battles toward common decency and compassionate "civilization". 😅😶

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#34 · (edited) Quote Reply

all folks have to do is all change their DOB on their job application to Leo or Aries, because those are the most confident star signs.

I thought Aries was the "baby of the Zodiac", though?

I've no real idea, I avoid that bullshit at every chance. Hell, I've politely left a first date for that. It only belies deeper-held beliefs in even more exploitive superstitions/cons. Best to move along. 🤷🏼‍♂️

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#35 · Quote Reply

There's also studies that show height is also a predictor of salary. As well as skin color being a predictor of those who get promoted. DEI was implemented based on those studies because educated black women were constantly passed over, even if they outcompeted their rivals in work competency.

Looking at you, Apollo project...

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Brave Little Hitachi Wand feddit.uk yakko@feddit.uk
Joined: 2025-01-08
#36 · Quote Reply

Do the post-metoo PR-repair ones count? 🙈🙉

Given the cruelty of this comedy murder, I would say they're the only ones that count

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ColeSloth discuss.tchncs.de ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de
Joined: 2023-08-18
#37 · Quote Reply

FWIW, if it's not a musculoskeletal injury/concern (and their possible neuropathic symptoms), maybe focusing on core & lower back strength at a gentle but regular pace could help you like it has for me. My spine's survived through 3 rollovers/tumbling crashes, ~10 auto collisions (7 while I was parked/stopped!), a 90ft cliff jump (never again), and teen years @ a McDojo to band a few. I've ...

Thanks. It's some of both for me, really. Exercise definitely helps, but at the end of the day, I got a messed up back. It's not bad enough from butting me down and out very often at all, so I'll keep exercising and stretching and make it last as long as I can.

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TubularTittyFrog lemmy.world TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world
Joined: 2024-02-23
#38 · Quote Reply

I thought Aries was the "baby of the Zodiac", though? I've no real idea, I avoid that bullshit at every chance. Hell, I've politely left a first date for that. It only belies deeper-held beliefs in even more exploitive superstitions/cons. Best to move along. 🤷🏼‍♂️

babies can be confident

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wyldrstallyns lemmy.dbzer0.com wyldrstallyns@lemmy.dbzer0.com
Joined: 2026-05-16
#39 · Quote Reply

Thanks. It's some of both for me, really. Exercise definitely helps, but at the end of the day, I got a messed up back. It's not bad enough from butting me down and out very often at all, so I'll keep exercising and stretching and make it last as long as I can.

Sounds like the plan, for sure. 😅🤷🏼‍♂️

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Janx piefed.social Janx@piefed.social
Joined: 2025-12-19
#40 · Quote Reply

Fat and ugly people are treated worse. Full stop. You would know. I'm sorry, I had to. I'm sure you're a beautiful soul.

On the inside. Deep, deep down inside...

^(kidding)^

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