{"id":46758,"date":"2026-04-10T14:38:42","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:38:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46758"},"modified":"2026-04-10T14:38:42","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T14:38:42","slug":"ozempic-glp-1-drugs-may-lead-to-divorce-boom-experts-warn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=46758","title":{"rendered":"Ozempic, GLP-1 drugs may lead to divorce boom, experts warn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<br \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft wp-block-nypost-editor-partner-article-links\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>The exploding <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/01\/08\/health\/shocking-number-of-americans-would-rather-ditch-social-media-than-glp-1-drugs-survey\/\">popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonists<\/a> like <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/17\/health\/i-used-to-be-a-happy-drunk-ozempic-made-me-a-sad-one\/\">Ozempic<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/10\/health\/this-glp-1-drug-has-a-risk-of-sudden-sight-loss-and-eye-stroke-study\/\">Wegovy<\/a> is often hailed as a public health triumph, but one potential side effect may be flying under the radar.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/05\/03\/lifestyle\/divorce-lawyer-reveals-the-four-common-mistakes-couples-make\/\">risk of divorce<\/a> increases as\u00a0weight drops, according to historical data from bariatric surgery patients.<\/p>\n<p>Some experts believe that the same pattern could occur as more people \u201ctake the jab\u201d and decide to <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/08\/28\/lifestyle\/middle-aged-women-are-leaving-marriages-due-to-menopause\/\">call it quits on their marriages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Per-Arne Svensson, a professor at the Institute of Health and Care Sciences in Sweden, studies the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/12\/04\/health\/how-marriage-can-actually-lower-your-obesity-risk-new-study\/\">link between weight loss and relationship status<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>While these drugs have many\u00a0metabolic benefits, he warns that the social fallout is very real.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe effect likely unfolds in several stages,\u201d Svensson told Fox News Digital. \u201cFirst, a substantial amount of weight must be lost, which typically occurs within the first year. Subsequently, changes in relationship dynamics may begin to emerge, followed by the legal processes associated with divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This observation aligns with previous studies that found patients who underwent\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/03\/26\/health\/what-is-sadi-s-surgery-for-more-weight-loss-than-gastric-sleeve\/\">bariatric surgery<\/a>\u00a0were twice as likely to get a divorce compared to the general population.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The exploding popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy is often hailed as a public health triumph, but one potential side effect may be flying under the radar. <span class=\"credit\">Kateryna \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>The risk of divorce increases as\u00a0weight drops, according to historical data from bariatric surgery patients. <span class=\"credit\">Prostock-studio \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In addition to helping with <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/03\/04\/health\/the-sleep-sweet-spot-that-lowers-diabetes-risk\/\">diabetes<\/a> control and weight management, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/02\/health\/fda-approves-new-daily-glp-1-pill-how-they-compare-to-wegovy-tablets\/\">GLP-1s<\/a> have also been found to help break unhealthy, reward-seeking habits like <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/04\/health\/incredibly-common-drinking-habit-may-quietly-triple-risk-of-serious-liver-condition-study\/\">drinking<\/a> and smoking.<\/p>\n<p>However, Svensson said the cause of these splits isn\u2019t necessarily a change in a patient\u2019s temperament or brain chemistry. Instead, he points to the psychological and social shifts that accompany a\u00a0new physique.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWeight loss itself may increase a sense of autonomy or confidence, potentially empowering individuals to leave unhealthy relationships,\u201d he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p>Many patients report that their lifestyles change substantially after weight loss, \u201coften involving greater social engagement and increased attention from others,\u201d the doctor added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>If a partner is unable to adapt to this more outgoing version of their spouse, the friction can cause rifts.<\/p>\n<p>A 2013 study supports this \u201crelationship tension\u201d theory, finding that when one partner loses significant weight while the other remains the same, it can lead to feelings of insecurity and criticism from the partner who didn\u2019t change.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCurrently, surgery leads to greater average weight loss, and its impact on relationships is therefore likely to be more pronounced,\u201d Svensson said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, as newer, more\u00a0effective medications\u00a0are developed, we may soon see comparable levels of weight loss to those achieved with surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"nyp-slideshow-modal-image wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption>\u201cWeight loss itself may increase a sense of autonomy or confidence, potentially empowering individuals to leave unhealthy relationships,\u201d Per-Arne Svensson told Fox News Digital. <span class=\"credit\">Dragana Gordic \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Svensson noted that weight loss doesn\u2019t have to mean \u201cdate loss.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAmong individuals who are single, the likelihood of forming a new relationship also increases substantially after weight loss,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile it may be somewhat discouraging to acknowledge the role of appearance in partner selection, finding a new romantic partner is nevertheless one of the most significant events in a person\u2019s life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To mitigate the risk of a split, Svensson suggests that couples take a collaborative approach to health.<\/p>\n<p>If one partner is pursuing wellness goals, involving the spouse in healthy\u00a0lifestyle changes\u00a0\u2014 such as diet and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/02\/11\/health\/most-exercise-burns-fewer-calories-than-you-think-new-study\/\">exercise<\/a> \u2014 can create a shared journey rather than one that pulls the couple apart, according to the expert.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere may be clear advantages to partners undertaking weight-loss treatment together,\u201d provided that both have a clinical need, Svensson added.<\/p>\n<p>Fox News Digital reached out to GLP-1 manufacturers requesting comment.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/04\/10\/health\/ozempic-glp-1-drugs-may-lead-to-divorce-boom-experts-warn\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The exploding popularity of GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy is often hailed as a public health triumph, but one potential side effect may be&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":46759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46758"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46758\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/46759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}