Kinsey Institute survey links GLP-1 drugs to changes in dating and sex for most users

A survey of 2,000 single U.S. adults found that 59% of people who had used a GLP-1 medication for weight loss said the drug had at least one effect on their dating life, and 52% said it had affected their sex life ^[1][2]. The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University released the findings on July 16, 2025, from a study run with DatingAdvice.com ^[1][2].

Eight percent of respondents — 155 people — said they had used a GLP-1 drug such as Ozempic, Zepbound or Wegovy to lose weight, with no significant difference in use between men and women ^[1][2]. The online survey ran from April 29 to May 8, 2025, among single adults ages 18 to 91, and the sample was balanced by age, gender, household income, region, and race and ethnicity ^[1].

What users reported

Among GLP-1 users who reported an impact on their dating life: 17% bought new clothing to show off their body; 16% heard from an ex or former partner who wanted to reconnect; 14% said they were getting more matches on dating apps; 13% felt more confident posting photos of themselves online; 12% felt more confident asking other people out; and 12% said they were going on more dates ^[1][2].

On sex, 18% said their sexual desire increased while 16% said it decreased. Sixteen percent said they were more comfortable with how they look naked, and 14% said they were less comfortable. Sixteen percent said their sexual function improved, and 12% said it worsened ^[1][2].

"I think there's a very nuanced story to tell here," said Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute and one of the study's authors. He said the effect depends on factors including drug dosage and drug type, speed of weight loss, starting and ending weight, and how much a person changed health and fitness habits at the same time ^[1][2].

Men reported larger swings in both directions

Men were about twice as likely as women to say their libido had increased, that they were happier with their bodies, and that their sexual function was better. But men were also about twice as likely to report the opposite: lower libido, feeling worse about their bodies, and decreased sexual function since taking a GLP-1 ^[1][2].

Men were three times more likely than women to say they felt more confident in their appearance and that they were getting more matches on dating apps, and twice as likely to say they were going on more dates ^[1][2].

Men also reported more stigma: 60% said they feared being judged or shamed for taking a GLP-1, compared with 35% of women ^[1][2].

Among all 2,000 respondents, 26% said they would not date someone taking a GLP-1, and a further 29% were unsure ^[1][2]. Their most common reasons were not knowing enough about the long-term side effects (49%), believing the medications are overused (32%), believing weight loss should be managed by lifestyle rather than medication (29%), and concern that people who really need the drugs are not getting them because too many others use them for cosmetic reasons (21%) ^[1][2].

Dr. Amanda Gesselman, a research scientist at the Kinsey Institute and another study author, said that as users report reduced appetites and lower interest in alcohol, the classic dinner-and-drinks date may give way to new ways of connecting ^[1][2].

The release notes that some polls suggest as many as 12% of the U.S. population have tried GLP-1 medications ^[1][2].

Why it matters for patients

The results describe what users attributed to the drug. The survey was cross-sectional and self-reported, so it does not establish that the medication caused any particular change in confidence, dating, or sexual function ^[1]. It also covered single adults only, so it does not describe how partnered users experience these changes ^[1].

The findings also suggest that stigma is common enough to come up socially. About a quarter of single adults said they would not date someone on a GLP-1, and nearly a third were unsure, most often citing uncertainty about long-term side effects ^[1][2].

What the release does not provide is a breakdown by specific drug or dose. Lehmiller named drug type and dosage as factors, but no results by molecule — semaglutide, tirzepatide, or others — were reported, and the number of users in each group is not given ^[1][2]. Whether the findings will appear in a peer-reviewed journal has not been reported ^[1][2].