Weight-loss surgery trumps popular Ozempic treatment in shocking new comparison

Weight-loss country was shown to beryllium 5 times much effectual than play injections of fashionable GLP-1 receptor agonists, including semaglutide (such arsenic Ozempic) and tirzepatide (such arsenic Mounjaro).

The uncovering comes from a caller survey presented this week astatine the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting successful Washington.

Researchers looked astatine "real-world" physics aesculapian grounds information of 51,085 patients astatine NYU Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals.

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All patients had a assemblage wide scale (BMI) of astatine slightest 35. 

They had either undergone bariatric surgery (sleeve gastrectomy oregon Roux en-Y gastric bypass) oregon were prescribed injectable semaglutide oregon tirzepatide betwixt 2018 and 2024. 

Weight-loss country was shown to beryllium 5 times much effectual than play injections of fashionable GLP-1 receptor agonists. (iStock)

(Sleeve gastrectomy reduces the size of the tummy to assistance obese patients suffer weight; gastric bypass involves rerouting the digestive tract to bypass a information of the tiny intestine, according to Mayo Clinic.)

Patients who had 1 of the bariatric surgeries had mislaid an mean of 58 pounds 2 years later, portion those who had taken a GLP-1 medicine medicine for astatine slightest six months mislaid 12 pounds, the researchers found.

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The surgical outcomes marked 24% total value loss compared to 4.7% for injectable medications, according to the survey property release.

Those who took the GLP-1 cause for a afloat twelvemonth showed much value nonaccomplishment (7%), but it was inactive little than those who had undergone 1 of the surgeries.

Patients who had 1 of the bariatric surgeries had mislaid an mean of 58 pounds 2 years later, portion those who had taken a GLP-1 medicine medicine for astatine slightest six months mislaid 12 pounds. (iStock)

These outcomes disagree from the results of objective trials.

"Clinical trials amusement value nonaccomplishment betwixt 15% and 21% for GLP-1s, but this survey suggests that value nonaccomplishment successful the existent satellite is considerably little adjacent for patients who person progressive prescriptions for an full year," said pb survey writer Avery Brown, MD, a surgical nonmigratory astatine NYU Langone Health, successful the property release. 

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As galore arsenic 70% of patients with GLP-1 prescriptions whitethorn discontinue attraction wrong 1 year, according to Brown. 

"GLP-1 patients whitethorn request to set their expectations, adhere much intimately to treatment, oregon opt for metabolic and bariatric surgery to execute desired results," helium advised.

Surgical outcomes marked 24% full value nonaccomplishment compared to 4.7% for injectable medications.

In aboriginal studies, the researchers program to research strategies for improving outcomes for patients taking GLP-1s and identifying which patients are amended candidates for country versus injectable medications, the merchandise stated.

The prevalence of GLP-1 drugs is higher than bariatric surgeries. Studies amusement that astir 12% of Americans person taken a GLP-1, portion 6% are presently taking them.

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However, much than fractional of patients halt taking them aft 1 year, and 72% wantonness them aft 2 years, probe has found.

Only astir 1% of patients who conscionable the criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgeries underwent 1 of those procedures successful 2023, according to the ASMBS.

Only astir 1% of patients who conscionable the criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgeries underwent 1 of those procedures successful 2023. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

The survey received grant funding from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences astatine the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Novo Nordisk, shaper of Ozempic and Wegovy, declined a petition for comment.

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Fox News Digital besides reached retired to the researchers and to Eli Lilly, shaper of Mounjaro and Zepbound.