Bariatric surgery for weight loss helps people to live longer and experience fewer severe health issues compared to individuals treated with GLP-1 medicines alone, a study has found.
The research also shows that those who undergo bariatric surgery also lose more weight, better manage their blood sugar levels and are less reliant on diabetes and heart drugs.
The study followed almost 4,000 adults with diabetes and obesity for up to a decade. Out of this group, 1,657 underwent metabolic surgery and 2,275 people received GLP-1 medicines including semaglutide and tirzepatide.
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The study found that those who underwent surgery had a 32% lower risk of death and 35% lower risk of serious heart problems.
In addition, this group had a 47% lower risk of serious kidney disease and 54% lower risk of retinopathy – eye damage related to diabetes.
The study’s primary investigator, Dr Ali Aminian, said: “Even with today’s best medicines, metabolic surgery offers unique and lasting benefits for people with obesity and diabetes.
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“The benefits we observed went beyond weight loss. Surgery was linked to fewer heart problems, less kidney disease, and even lower rates of diabetes-related eye damage.”
In terms of weight loss, those who underwent surgery lost 21.6% of their body weight over a decade, while those treated with GLP-1 medicines alone lost 6.8% of their body weight.
In addition, markers of average blood sugar levels improved more in the surgery group (-0.86%) compared to those only taking the medication (-0.23%).
The study authors spoke of the “survival advantage” to weight loss surgery, even in an era of powerful new drugs being used to treat obesity and diabetes.
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Dr Aminian said: “Our findings indicate that surgery should remain an important treatment option for obesity and diabetes.
“These long-term benefits are harder to achieve with GLP-1 medicines alone, as many patients stop using the medications over time.”
Read more in Nature Medicine
