I Love My New GLP-1 Body, But I’m Not Ready for Sex

It’s normal to have mixed feelings, even when you think a change is for the better, say the experts

Ellen Uzelac,

AARP

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Published May 28, 2026

an illustration shows an older adult couple in their bedroom. The wife is in the foreground wrapped in a giant tape measure. The husband is on sitting on the bed looking sad

Kiersten Essenpreis

Body image and how it affects our sex lives can be tricky. That’s not exactly breaking news.

But several of the sex therapists I talk to every week say the popularity of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss has patients struggling with this issue now more than ever.

And like so many things when it comes to sex, it’s complicated.

Our experts break it down.

I just lost a lot of weight on a GLP-1, and I’m feeling body-proud again. My husband wants to be sexual, but I’m not quite there yet. At the moment, our sex life has become an argument. Can you help? — Submitted by A.E.

The big takeaway for me is that the issue is less about appearance than a complex combination of confidence, resentment and some anger.

A lot of feelings here to unpack. Body-proud, yes, but sex and relationship coach Stella Harris says you may also be experiencing anger and resentment.

“This is a common experience for a lot of people who lose weight,” she says. “Suddenly you’re getting a lot of compliments. Your partner is more attracted to you. Does that mean every compliment before was fake?”

And when you say you’re “not there yet,” Harris thinks it implies you haven’t wanted to be sexual for a while.

“Either he wasn’t expressing interest when she was larger, or her insecurity wasn’t letting her enjoy intimacy at a larger size,” she posits. “Those complicated feelings could be part of [the issue].”

It’s also possible that you’re scared, says licensed marriage and family therapist Tameca N. Harris-Jackson.

Sometimes extra weight serves as a protective layer that can keep others, including your husband, at a distance.

“Now people are looking at you more, and that can be scary,” Harris-Jackson says. “There are a lot of layers for the person who’s lost the weight, and they often aren’t prepared for the outcome of it.”

Take a break from the discussion. “When sex becomes a hot-button issue,” says Harris, “it’s helpful to take [the topic] off the table for a period of time. Decide as a couple that you’re not going to talk about it for a week, a month, three months — and make it official by putting it on your calendar. It takes the daily pressure off, the anxiety of whether it’s going to come up,” Harris notes. “Essentially, this is a cooldown period. When the date does arrive, you’ll be in a better position to revisit the conversation.”

When it’s time to talk. Certified sex therapist Nan Wise, author of Why Good Sex Matters, says to take this as an opportunity to do what couples should be doing anyway when there’s a change in their relationship: Renavigate, reconnect and reboot your sex life.

“Really talk to each other: Express your wants, wishes and fears about the erotic,” she says. “Expand what your sex life has or hasn’t been. Redesign your sex life.”

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Don’t rush things. Certified sex therapist Marianne Brandon, cohost of The Sex Doctors podcast, says, “Couples who haven’t had sex in a while can find it helpful to start by taking small steps toward an increased physical and sexual connection.”

Among her suggestions:

Have date nights that don’t involve sexual contact but do make time for intimate conversation.
Start connecting by slow dancing in the kitchen, then cuddling, then lying together naked.

“Talking together about how these experiences feel can be very helpful in resurrecting your intimate lives together,” Brandon says.

Explore your new body. Harris-Jackson encourages you to “learn your way around your new home” on your own through self-pleasure.

But first, start with your thoughts.

“When do you feel comfortable, at ease and even sexy? When do you feel tense, anxious or uncomfortable? That information can help you communicate your needs to your husband,” she notes.

It’s not about size but confidence. Chris Fariello, founder and director of the Philadelphia Institute for Individual, Relational & Sex Therapy, says body image is a tough issue and poses an overarching challenge: “How can we be proud of our bodies whatever size we are?”

As Fariello, a certified sex therapist, positions it: Confidence, not size, is the most important part of sexuality.

“If we aren’t sexually confident — whether it’s about our body image, our abilities or whatever — it will negatively impact our sexual expression. It’s not about losing weight but feeling confident.”

Here’s a question Fariello says to consider: “How can I feel more confident about being with my husband in any body shape?”

He continues: “Oftentimes people feel a lack of confidence because they’re comparing themselves to a perception that is unrealistic.” His advice:

Don’t compare yourself to those who have more, are better, etc.
Being positive makes positive change easier.
Surround yourself with people who support you and help you achieve your goals.
Consult a therapist who can help you see things in a new light.

Grieve the body you left behind. Your former body served a purpose, and Harris-Jackson says to express appreciation for that.

One way, she says, is to “write a letter to your former body .... Reflect on the good memories you had together. And use the letter to let your former body know that you’re going to be OK. You’ve got it from here.”

Do you have questions about sex or relationships as a 50-plus adult? Send them to sexafter50@aarp.org.

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