"The 'Appetite-Suppressing Drug' Changed the Couple's Nights — How GLP-1 Affects Intimacy"

"Losing weight changed my life"—the narrative surrounding GLP-1 weight loss drugs (such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro/Zepbound) has become a part of everyday conversation in recent years. In the United States, data even suggests that "one in eight people have tried these drugs," making the "weight loss revolution" no longer just a topic for a select few.PodScripts

However, the revolution changes more than just weight. It quietly reshapes how you see yourself, how others interact with you, how you spend your holidays, and even the dynamics with your closest partner.

This time, we focus on the "after" of a couple discussed in an NYT podcast. The trigger was a "callout" from the program seeking personal experiences. A short message they received struck at the core of the couple's relationship: "Drinking less, eating less, health improved. But it affected my wife's libido. She's not interested in sex."PodScripts

"I lost 60 pounds" and am treated as a "different person" even though I'm the same

The wife (introduced under a pseudonym in the program) had long struggled with postpartum depression and weight gain, dealing with "food noise," where she couldn't stop thinking about food.PodScripts

Health issues like fatty liver became apparent, leading her to consult a doctor about GLP-1. After starting the medication, her weight loss was astonishingly rapid—60 pounds (about 27 kg) in eight months.PodScripts

While her body became lighter, the social gaze grew "heavier." She found herself taking on more public-facing roles at work and began to feel, "I'm the same person, but just 60 pounds lighter, and yet people's perceptions change."PodScripts

This is a sentiment often seen on social media. Behind posts about successful weight loss, there's almost always a mix of bewilderment, like "suddenly being treated with care" or "feeling like I'm on the chosen side." Physical changes reflect back not only "inside oneself" but also through "the behavior of others."

Wine disappeared, late nights disappeared, and the couple's "common language" disappeared

The couple's hobby was food and wine. Living with a large wine cellar was their "dream." However, due to the medication, the wife's desire for alcohol almost vanished. Evenings spent opening bottles on the sofa or visiting local brewpubs no longer felt enjoyable.PodScripts

Furthermore, she began to draw boundaries, stepping down from her role as the "cheerful life of the party" and preferring to read at home and go to bed early.PodScripts

The husband felt the loss of a "drinking buddy," and their conversations began to turn into conflicts.PodScripts

This is crucial. The issue isn't just about "not drinking anymore," but that the rhythm the couple maintained by "enjoying the same things" simultaneously broke down. GLP-1 is often said to lower the "volume of desires," but an untranslatable gap in daily life emerges between the side whose desires have decreased and the side whose desires haven't.

Supporting this "change in desires," a study analyzing social media posts found a certain percentage mentioning quitting or reducing alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine intake after using GLP-1.PMC
There's also a hypothesis that it affects the brain's reward system (dopamine), potentially weakening impulses other than appetite (such as drinking or gambling).Boston University

In other words, the disappearance of "wine" might not be a change in personality but a change in how "rewards" are perceived.

Is the cessation of sex solely due to "side effects of the medication"?

What was more serious for the couple was that sex had completely stopped. The husband longed for the soft "previous body," feeling bewildered about "not being able to touch the new body."PodScripts
On the other hand, the wife mentioned factors that could affect libido, such as "menopause" and "antidepressants," while suggesting that the core issue lay elsewhere.PodScripts

What she said was a very quiet statement—"I didn't say 'no' before." Now, she can set boundaries. "I don't want to have sex."PodScripts

This goes beyond a simple story of "the medication lowered libido." The change in her body altered her self-image, changed the dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and made it impossible to continue being "the self that matched the partner." In other words, GLP-1 might not have taken away "desires" but rather granted the "right to access one's true feelings."

This point divides opinions online.

• "Lost weight, gained confidence, and sexual satisfaction increased" camp

• "Along with appetite, comes a feeling of 'not wanting to do anything'" camp

In fact, Wired's coverage also introduced people whose libido increased and those who reported a decrease, indicating that the research is still insufficient.WIRED
Additionally, The Cut discusses a sense of overall flattening of desires (expressed as "meh, bleh, numb, flat"), suggesting an impact on the dopamine system.The Cut

How are "SNS reactions" spreading: Experiences focus on "love, body, self-image"

Here, let's organize the "typical reactions" on social media and communities based on actual survey and analysis results.

1) "Dates no longer revolve around 'food and drinks'"
A Kinsey Institute survey introduction points out that GLP-1 users report "decreased appetite" and "decreased interest in alcohol," potentially changing the traditional "dinner & drinks" type of dating.Indiana University News

2) "Sex life can be both positively and negatively affected"
The same survey reports that about 52% of GLP-1 users noted an impact on their sex life. Libido "increased by 18% / decreased by 16%," and sexual function "improved by 16% / worsened by 12%," showing a clear polarization.Indiana University News
Since social media tends to lean towards "success stories," reality has more of a gradient.

3) "The 'body' after losing weight brings new concerns"
Rapid weight loss leaves excess skin, leading more people to opt for body contouring surgeries (abdomen, chest, arms), as noted by plastic surgeons.American Society of Plastic Surgeons

The wife in the program also underwent what's known as a "mommy makeover" (surgery on the abdomen, chest, and arms) and spoke about how her feelings towards her body changed.PodScripts

4) "Community interest leans towards 'usage and side effect management,' often downplaying risk awareness"
A study that conducted a large-scale topic analysis of Reddit posts showed that the central topics were "weight loss," "dosage," "insurance," and "side effect management," with fewer discussions on health risks (such as unsupervised use).ScienceDirect

In other words, while social media amplifies "practical information," it relatively minimizes "long-term uncertainties."

5) "There are indeed voices saying libido has increased"
A mixed study using social media posts as material also found mentions of increased libido alongside decreased intake of alcohol and other substances.PMC

GoodRx also highlights that "reviews of social media content reported increases in libido."GoodRx

And the "update"—what happened to the couple?

When the reporter reconnected with them a year later for the program's "update," the couple had moved past the "complete dryness." "It's not frequent, but we do it."PodScripts

One turning point the wife mentioned was the aforementioned body surgery. Removing excess skin diminished her fear and disgust towards her body, and she felt "more loving and grateful."PodScripts

That morning, she said, "We have time, and I'm 'in the mood' now," and her husband, though puzzled, responded. The result, they said, was "wonderful."PodScripts##HTML_TAG_453