The Effects of GLP-1 Use on Mental Health, Self-rated Health, Employment and Marriage

In this article, we exploit the recent, rapid diffusion of the use of GLP-1 drugs among individuals with diabetes to measure the effect of the use of these drugs on mental health, self-rated health, employment, and marriage. The documented large weight loss from GLP-1 use may plausibly affect these outcomes and evidence of these broader impacts of GLP-1 use is necessary to evaluate their full value. Estimates are obtained using a longitudinal (within-person) regression approach. Results indicate that GLP-1 use is not meaningfully associated with mental health, self-rated health, employment, and marriage. Overall, our analysis adds new evidence about how GLP-1 use is affecting the lives of individuals with diabetes.