Kinsey Institute finds GLP-1s are changing sex and dating for most users

A survey from the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University, done with DatingAdvice.com, found that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs are changing how many single Americans date and have sex. The survey polled 2,000 single U.S. adults ages 18 to 91, and 8% of them, or 155 people, said they had used a GLP-1 medication for weight loss.^[1][2]

Among those 155 GLP-1 users, 59% reported at least one change to their dating life. The most common shifts were buying new clothes to show off their body (17%), hearing from exes who wanted to reconnect (16%), getting more matches on dating apps (14%), feeling more confident posting photos online (13%), feeling more confident asking people out (12%), and going on more dates (12%).^[1][2]

About half of users, 52%, said the drugs had also changed their sex lives, in mixed directions. Sexual desire went up for 18% and down for 16%. Comfort with their naked body improved for 16% and worsened for 14%. Sexual function got better for 16% and worse for 12%.^[1][2]

The survey found clear differences between men and women. Men were about twice as likely as women to report higher libido, better body image, and improved sexual function, but also twice as likely to report the opposite: lower libido, worse body image, and reduced sexual function. On dating specifically, men were roughly three times more likely than women to say they felt more confident in their appearance and were getting more matches on dating apps, and twice as likely to say they were going on more dates.^[1][2]

Despite these gains, men reported more stigma. Sixty percent of men said they feared being judged or shamed for taking a GLP-1, compared with 35% of women. That worry has some basis: among all 2,000 people surveyed, not just users, 26% said they would not date someone taking a GLP-1, and another 29% were unsure. The top reasons given were not knowing enough about long-term side effects (49%), a sense that the drugs are overused (32%), a belief that weight loss should come from lifestyle changes rather than medication (29%), and concern that people using the drugs for cosmetic reasons are crowding out those who need them for health reasons (21%).^[1][2]

Kinsey Institute researcher Dr. Amanda Gesselman said GLP-1 use "is rising among single adults and it's starting to influence more than just how people look and feel about themselves." She noted that as users report smaller appetites and less interest in alcohol, "the classic dinner-and-drinks date may give way to new methods of connecting."^[1][2] Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a co-author, said the effect on someone's sex life depends on factors like drug dosage and type, how fast they lose weight, their starting and ending weight, and whether they also changed health and fitness habits.^[1][2]

Why it matters for patients

For people taking or considering semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), this survey suggests the drugs' effects can extend beyond the scale into dating and sex life, for better or worse. The data show these changes are not uniform: roughly 4 in 10 users reported no change to their dating life, and about half saw no change to their sex life.^[1][2] The survey also flags a real social cost, since more than a quarter of single adults said they would not date someone using a GLP-1, and stigma appears higher among men.^[1][2] The survey does not identify which specific drug, dose, or length of use is linked to which outcome, so it is not yet known how these effects vary by medication or treatment stage.

What happens next

The survey, called the "State of Us: National Study on Modern Love & Dating in 2025," was fielded from April 29 to May 8, 2025, and its full results were published by DatingAdvice.com alongside the Kinsey Institute's release on July 16, 2025.^[1][2] No follow-up study or additional data release is mentioned in the available materials.