Dad Bod Reset

    Dad Bod Reset: a Trimi survey of 1,009 American men on body image, dating, GLP-1 stigma, and fatherhood

    For years, the dad bod got treated as a punchline or a badge of not caring. The men who actually have one mostly disagree. In a new Trimi survey of 1,009 American men, the vast majority said they don't embrace the dad bod at all, and many described real pressure around how their bodies look, who they date, and how they see themselves as partners and fathers.

    We asked men how their weight affects their confidence, their dating lives, their views on GLP-1 medications, and their plans for family. Their answers show a generation of men rethinking what the dad bod costs them, and how openly they're willing to talk about it.

    Key Takeaways

    • Nearly 1 in 2 men (46%) say there is still a stigma around men using GLP-1s, the highest among Gen Z (60%).
    • More than 3 in 4 men (78%) say how their body looks has a big impact on their confidence.
    • Nearly 3 in 4 men (73%) pull back socially, avoiding dating, skipping the gym, or staying out of photos, because of how they feel about their body.
    • More than 1 in 4 Gen Z men (27%) have avoided dating altogether because of their bodies.
    • Nearly 3 in 5 men (58%) would feel comfortable telling their male friends they use a GLP-1.
    • More than 9 in 10 men (94%) do not embrace the "dad bod."

    “The finding that stopped me was the generational split: Gen Z men feel the most pressure about their bodies, with 84% saying looks drive their confidence, yet they're also the most likely to call GLP-1s stigmatized or an easy way out. The generation hurting the most is the one most reluctant to consider every tool available. My advice is simple: don't let a meme make your health decisions. Talk to a licensed provider about what's actually right for your body, whether that's medication or not.”

    Christian Sabbagh, Founder & CEO of Trimi Health

    Why Most Men Have Written Off the Dad Bod

    The dad bod may live on in memes, but the men carrying one aren't sold on it.

    Is the Dad Bod Era Over?
    94%
    of men do not embrace the dad bod, and 41% see it as something to change or a sign a man has let himself go.
    How Men See the Term "Dad Bod"
    30%
    A normal, expected part of getting older
    22%
    Something they want to avoid or change
    19%
    A sign a man has let himself go
    12%
    No strong feelings about it
    11%
    It depends on the person
    6%
    Something to embrace and be comfortable with
    How Men Feel About Their Appearance
    How their body looks has a big impact on their confidence
    78%
    Their weight affects how attractive they feel to a partner
    68%
    They worry about being seen as someone who has let himself go
    62%
    They think about their weight more than five years ago
    53%
    They feel more appearance pressure as they get older
    44%
    Nearly 3 in 4 men (73%) have pulled back in some way because of how they feel about their body.
    The Most Common Ways Men Pull Back
    51%
    Avoided taking their shirt off in public
    32%
    Bought clothing to hide their body
    28%
    Avoided being in photos or videos
    21%
    Avoided dating or putting themselves out there
    Source: Trimi Study
    Trimi

    Acceptance of the dad bod turned out to be thin, and the pressure men feel about their bodies runs deep:

    • More than 9 in 10 men (94%) do not embrace the "dad bod."
    • Body image weighs on confidence for 78% of men, who say how their body looks has a big impact on how they feel. That pressure runs highest among Gen Z men (84%), followed by millennials (80%), Gen X (72%), and baby boomers (64%).
    • Nearly 3 in 4 men (73%) pull back socially because of how they feel about their body, avoiding dating, skipping the gym, or staying out of photos.
    • More than 1 in 4 Gen Z men (27%) have avoided dating altogether because of their body.
    • Men who'd been told by a doctor they were overweight are far likelier to cover up, with 65% avoiding taking their shirt off in public, compared with 42% of other men.

    What Men Expect From Reaching Their Goal Weight

    • Asked what would improve most if they hit their goal weight, men point first to their overall health (81%), then to feeling more attractive to a partner (54%) and feeling better about getting older (45%).
    • Looking ahead to their goal weight, 40% of men expect a better sex life and 38% expect more confidence when dating or meeting new people.
    • Feeling healthier is the top reason men give for why weight loss is worth it (42%), well ahead of feeling more confident with age (11%), having more energy (10%), or feeling attractive again (10%).

    Who Men Will (and Won't) Tell About a GLP-1

    Attitudes toward GLP-1s are changing, but many men still keep their use to themselves.

    The GLP-1 Dating Disclosure Gap
    50%
    of men say they would feel more attractive to a partner if they lost weight on a GLP-1.
    What Men Believe a GLP-1 Would Change for Their Love Life
    50%
    Would feel more attractive to a partner
    50%
    Would feel comfortable telling a partner they use one
    44%
    Would feel more confident dating or in their relationship
    Who Men Would Be Comfortable Telling About a GLP-1
    A doctor or healthcare provider
    81%
    A romantic partner
    70%
    Close friends
    64%
    Family members
    62%
    Male friends
    58%
    Coworkers
    35%
    Source: Trimi Study
    Trimi

    Stigma and disclosure tracked closely with age and personal experience:

    • Nearly half of men (46%) say there's still a stigma around men using GLP-1s, a view most common among Gen Z men (60%), then millennials (48%), Gen X (36%), and baby boomers (23%).
    • Calling GLP-1s "an easy way out" skews young as well, with 31% of Gen Z and 27% of millennial men agreeing, compared with 17% of Gen X and baby boomer men.
    • Comfort with disclosure rises sharply with experience. Among men who have used a GLP-1, 77% feel comfortable telling a partner, versus just 24% of men who wouldn't consider one.
    • Nearly 3 in 5 men (58%) would feel comfortable telling their male friends they use a GLP-1.

    Fatherhood and Testosterone Fuel the Push To Get in Shape

    For many men, getting healthier is tied up with being a present, energetic father.

    Weight Loss, Fatherhood, and Male Fertility Anxiety
    More than 2 in 5 men (44%) say reaching a healthy weight would make them feel more ready to be a father.
    Share Who Would Feel More Ready To Be a Father at a Healthy Weight
    64%
    Men who plan to have children
    41%
    Men who already have children
    28%
    Men who do not plan to have children
    42%
    of men worry their weight or a weight-loss medication could affect their testosterone.
    Men's Weight-Related Concerns About Fatherhood
    Worry their weight or a weight-loss medication could affect their testosterone
    42%
    Would want to lose weight before trying to have a child
    27%
    Worry their weight could affect their fertility
    23%
    Source: Trimi Study
    Trimi

    Family plans and health worries comes through clearly in how men think about their weight:

    • Men still planning a family are the most likely to tie reaching a healthy weight to being ready for kids (64%), compared with 41% of men who already have children and 28% of those who don't plan to have them.
    • More than 2 in 5 men (43%) expect to have more energy to keep up as a father once they reach their goal weight.
    • Worry about testosterone is most common among millennial men (49%), followed by Gen Z (38%), Gen X (35%), and baby boomer men (23%).

    Methodology

    Trimi commissioned an online survey of 1,009 American men in 2026 to explore attitudes, behaviors and personal experiences related to how men view their bodies and weight, including confidence, dating and relationships, sex, aging and fatherhood, and how GLP-1 medications shape what they believe is possible. Respondents were screened for valid and unique participation. Generationally, respondents were 49% millennials, 22% Gen X, 22% Gen Z and 7% baby boomers. Average figures for numeric questions exclude statistical outliers.

    Medical Disclaimer

    This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting, adjusting, or discontinuing any medication. Individual results vary. GLP-1 medications require a prescription and should only be used under medical supervision.

    About Trimi

    Trimi is a U.S. telehealth provider that connects patients with licensed providers and named 503A compounding pharmacies for GLP-1 treatment, with transparent all-in pricing and no membership fees. That vantage point gives the company a close view of the cost, access, and everyday decisions behind the GLP-1 conversation. (Trimi, at trytrimi.com, is a separate company from the similarly named TrimRx.)

    Fair Use Statement

    Feel free to share the findings from this study for any noncommercial use. We only ask that you link back to the full study so readers can see the complete results and methodology, and please credit Trimi as the source.