The GLP-1 generation gap
Why Millennial parents are more private than Boomers
GLP-1s are helping many parents regain energy, try new activities, and reconnect with family in more meaningful ways. But with that transformation comes a new challenge: deciding when—and how—to talk to their kids about using weight-loss medication.
Ro patient data reveals a picture of modern parenting and health: more honest conversations, more movement, and notable generational differences in how families approach openness and privacy. Learn more about what we found and our methodology below.
Showing up in new ways
Parents who are using GLP-1s engage with their kids in new ways, a shift reflected in how families communicate and spend time with one another:
Honesty vs. hesitation: the decision to share your weight management journey with your kids
Talking to your kids about GLP-1s isn’t just medical, it’s emotional. Parents constantly weigh whether transparency is helpful or if it crosses into oversharing.
These findings suggest that while many parents want to be transparent, they’re also navigating their children’s evolving understanding of weight, body image, and health.
This generational spectrum—from Millennial hesitancy to Boomer openness—suggests that the “right time” to talk about GLP-1s may be shaped as much by parenting culture as by age.
Hear directly from Ro ambassador and paid partner, Summer, about how GLP-1s have reshaped mealtime with her family.
Whether they choose to share or keep it private, parents are thoughtful and deliberate. They see their GLP-1 as more than just a medication, and as part of a broader story about how they care for themselves and model that care for others. The motivations behind telling their kids change by generation: while Boomers are most likely to cite privacy and autonomy as reasons for not sharing that they’re on a GLP-1, Millennials strongly emphasize developmental readiness, with far more concern that their child is too young or the timing isn’t right. Whether through actions or conversations, it’s clear that parents are using their GLP-1 journeys to rewrite what family health looks like.
For many parents, GLP-1s are more than a treatment; they’re a turning point. Whether they choose to share that story or keep it to themselves for now, it’s clear they’re using this moment to prioritize their health and show up for their family.
Methodology
Survey results are based on the responses of 2,782 people, of which 782 were Ro Body members using GLP-1 medication. Ro membership includes access to prescription GLP-1 medications, provider check-ins, an insurance concierge, and a lifestyle modification curriculum. Ro members were entered into a sweepstakes in exchange for their participation in the survey.
Important Safety Information
GLP-1 medications may have serious side effects. See Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, at ro.co/safety-info/glp1.