When two people start dating, they develop a (somewhat) surface-level understanding of one another\u2014where someone grew up and whether they prefer pineapple on pizza, for example. But with each subsequent date, they often start revealing the more vulnerable parts of themselves that turn casual chemistry into a real connection.<\/p>\n
For some, that vulnerability includes deciding whether to tell a new partner they take a GLP-1. In a society that\u2019s both fanatically obsessed with and highly critical of people\u2019s bodies, revealing that kind of personal information can feel particularly fraught, says Jody Thomas, PhD<\/a>, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in treating people with chronic conditions.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a vulnerability of revealing ourselves that\u2019s always a part of relationships,\u201d she says. \u201cBut it feels a lot different to reveal that someone is taking high blood pressure medication than it is to talk about GLP-1 use. It\u2019s become more loaded. We feel as though we need to explain ourselves and our choices.\u201d<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning on being with a partner long-term, a disclosure may be inevitable.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Thomas attributes much of that discomfort to the way GLP-1s are talked about in popular culture: \u201cIt\u2019s always, \u2018X celebrity admits to using a GLP-1.\u2019 It\u2019s never \u2018X celebrity takes a GLP-1 to treat their health condition,\u2019\u201d she says.<\/p>\n Though GLP-1 medications were originally developed to help manage type 2 diabetes and blood glucose, evidence<\/a> has shown that they can also help improve outcomes for people with cardiovascular, kidney, and liver issues, as well as those with arthritis and sleep apnea.<\/p>\n At some point, as you get to know someone better, you may decide it\u2019s time to share more about your health\u2014including use of these medications. How do you know when the time is right? And what should you say? Here, experts break it down.<\/p>\n Good Reasons to Tell Them<\/strong><\/p>\n First things first: You\u2019re under no obligation to disclose information about your health to anyone. Period. But if you\u2019re thinking about bringing up your GLP-1 journey, be clear about what\u2019s motivating the conversation. Also decide what you\u2019re actually disclosing. Are you telling someone you take medication? Or are you opening up about living with a medical condition?<\/p>\n For people taking a GLP-1 to manage type 2 diabetes or heart disease (which accounts for roughly 61 percent of users, research<\/a> in England suggests), those conversations often go beyond the medication itself.<\/p>\n \u201cGenerally speaking, chronic conditions\u2014like obesity or type 2 diabetes in the case of a GLP-1\u2014require an ongoing commitment to medical monitoring and lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise, and stress management,\u201d explains Ashley Matskevich, MD<\/a>, a board-certified psychiatrist in Massachusetts who works with young adults. She notes that someone knowing about your type 2 diabetes may be important for safety reasons, as unexpected health issues or medication changes can arise even when everything seems to be going well. \u201cIf you\u2019re planning on being with a partner long-term, a disclosure may be inevitable,\u201d Dr. Matskevich says.<\/p>\n Thomas, who has a medical condition herself, says that even with proper treatment, there are times when her energy suddenly drops. By sharing that with her partner, they understand that leaving a social event early, for example, isn\u2019t about disinterest\u2014it\u2019s about taking care of her health.<\/p>\n Ultimately, think about whether sharing your health condition, your GLP-1 use, or both would help a partner better understand or support you. If the answer is yes, that\u2019s a good reason to open up.<\/p>\n One Reason to Hold Off<\/strong><\/p>\n If the only thing pushing you to disclose your GLP-1 use is the feeling that you have to explain yourself, it may be worth waiting.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s societal pressure surrounding disclosure of GLP-1 use, but people should focus more on their own feelings of internal pressure,\u201d Dr. Matskevich says. Before deciding whether to disclose, she encourages asking yourself a couple of key questions: What emotion do I feel when I think about sharing this, and what does that tell me about my relationship? Am I seeking reassurance from my partner?<\/p>\n If you\u2019re afraid a partner will see your GLP-1 use as \u2018cheating\u2019 and \u2018lazy,\u2019 that\u2019s revealing about the person.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n There\u2019s no right or wrong answer to these questions\u2014just give them some thought before voluntarily revealing information about your health. Also consider how your partner might react to learning you\u2019re taking a GLP-1, which Thomas says can be \u201ca good red flag detector.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re afraid a partner will see your GLP-1 use as \u2018cheating\u2019 and \u2018lazy,\u2019 that\u2019s revealing about the person,\u201d she says. \u201cThere are a lot of people who worry that, I\u2019m going to reveal this aspect of myself, and they\u2019re going to hightail it and run. A subset of people will, but that subset is a lot smaller than you think\u2014and it\u2019s probably not the person you were going to want to end up with anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n The Best Way to Bring It Up<\/strong><\/p>\n When you\u2019ve decided you want to tell a partner about your GLP-1 use, try not to make it a \u201cwhole thing,\u201d says Thomas. It doesn\u2019t have to be a nerve-racking, formal sit-down conversation. She recommends letting it come up naturally if possible. Maybe the two of you take a trip together, spend the night at each other\u2019s place, or they notice your medication on the bathroom counter.<\/p>\n That can open the door to a casual explanation. \u201cYou can say, \u2018Yeah, I started taking this six months ago. My doctor and I decided it would be really helpful, and I\u2019m feeling healthier and better than ever before,\u2019\u201d Thomas says. \u201cYou get to set the tone for conversations about your health.\u201d<\/p>\n If you want a more planned-out talk, Dr. Matskevich says to choose a time and place that feels comfortable. \u201cIf you\u2019re anxious and want to have the conversation at the kitchen table at home, do that,\u201d she says. \u201cIf it feels easy breezy to mention it while out on a walk, do it. Sometimes it can be easier to have tough conversations while driving and not looking directly at each other.\u201d<\/p>\n Your Health Comes First<\/strong><\/p>\n No matter how thoughtfully you approach the conversation, not everyone will be receptive to learning that you\u2019re taking a GLP-1. Some people may be on their own health journey, and hearing about yours could bring up personal insecurities. There\u2019s also evidence<\/a> suggesting that some individuals feel resentment or jealousy toward partners who lose weight while taking a GLP-1.<\/p>\n Whatever the case, remember that another person\u2019s feelings about your health should come second to your doctor\u2019s recommendations\u2014and the reasons you were prescribed the medication in the first place.<\/p>\n\n
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