Weight Loss Surgery Outperforms GLP-1 Injections
A recent study revealed that weight loss surgery is significantly more effective—about five times more—than weekly injections of popular GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (like Ozempic) and tilzepatide (like Mounjaro). This finding was shared during the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Annual Science Conference held in Washington.
The study analyzed “real-world” data derived from electronic medical records of 51,085 patients at NYU Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals. Every participant had a body mass index (BMI) of at least 35. They were either treated with bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) or received prescriptions for either injectable semaglutide or tilzepatide between the years 2018 and 2024.
Interestingly, patients who underwent bariatric surgery experienced an average weight loss of 58 pounds over two years. In contrast, those using GLP-1 medications for a minimum of six months lost around 12 pounds. Notably, surgical methods led to a total weight loss of 24%, whereas the injectable medications resulted in about 4.7% weight loss.
Although patients on long-term GLP-1 medication showed slightly better results with a 7% loss, it still paled in comparison to the outcomes of the surgeries.
These findings differ from those reported in clinical trials, where results indicated weight losses ranging from 15% to 21% for GLP-1 medications. According to Avery Brown, a surgical resident at NYU Langone Health, many patients using GLP-1 drugs might need to manage their expectations or even consider bariatric surgery to effectively achieve weight loss goals. There’s some hesitation, of course. “About 70% of these patients may stop their treatment within a year,” Brown noted.
Future research aims to explore potential strategies to better meet the needs of GLP-1 users and identify which patients might benefit more from surgery versus injections. Interestingly, while the uptake of GLP-1 medications is higher—approximately 12% of Americans use them—only around 6% are opting for bariatric surgery. However, it’s troubling that over half of the individuals taking GLP-1 drugs discontinue their use after a year, with around 72% doing the same after two years.
Data from ASMBS highlights that only about 1% of qualifying patients underwent metabolic and bariatric surgery in 2023.
This study was funded by the National Center for Advancement of Translational Science at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, did not provide a comment when reached out for insights.
