A test of the Tripartite Influence Model in the context of GLP-1 medication consideration among women in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications are increasingly used for weight loss, yet little is known about the sociocultural and psychological factors underlying interest in their use. One framework for understanding such factors is the Tripartite Influence Model (TIM), which proposes that sociocultural appearance pressures contribute to body dissatisfaction and eating pathology via appearance-ideal internalisation and appearance comparison processes. The present study aimed to apply the TIM to examine sociocultural predictors of GLP-1 medication consideration among women. Participants were 329 UK women (Mage = 38.16 years, SD = 12.62) recruited via Prolific, who completed measures of appearance pressure from media, family, peers, and significant others, thin-ideal internalisation, upward appearance comparison, body dissatisfaction, and GLP-1 medication consideration. Structural equation modelling was used to test the TIM. The model demonstrated excellent fit and explained 35.6% of the variance in GLP-1 consideration. Media pressure showed significant indirect associations with GLP-1 consideration through thin-ideal internalisation and through a direct effect on body dissatisfaction, though not through upward appearance comparison. Family pressure was indirectly associated with consideration through body dissatisfaction, but not through internalisation or comparison. Peer pressure showed a significant total indirect association with consideration, although the specific pathway through thin-ideal internalisation was marginal. Significant-other pressure showed no significant indirect effect on consideration through either internalisation or comparison. These findings represent the first application of the TIM to the consideration of GLP-1 medication for weight loss and suggest that sociocultural appearance pressures may shape interest in these medications through recognised body image processes.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Body Image, 2026 · DOI ↗