- A brand new examine discovered that utilizing GLP-1 drugs, equivalent to Ozempic or Wegovy, earlier than bariatric surgical procedure was not related to better weight reduction 12 months after the process.
- Researchers additionally discovered no vital variations in diabetes management, postoperative problems, size of hospital keep, or emergency division visits.
- Specialists say GLP-1 drugs should still present advantages earlier than or after bariatric surgical procedure, together with serving to with weight reduction earlier than surgical procedure or managing weight regain afterward.
A brand new examine means that utilizing GLP-1 drugs, equivalent to Ozempic and Wegovy, earlier than bariatric surgical procedure might not result in better weight reduction after the process.
The analysis, revealed August 12 in
Nonetheless, the findings don’t rule out potential advantages of utilizing GLP-1 medications earlier than or after bariatric surgical procedure, together with serving to some folks drop some weight earlier than the process or handle weight regain afterward.
Researchers analyzed information from 383 individuals who underwent bariatric surgery at a single heart between 2022 and 2024. Of these, 92 (24%) had been utilizing a GLP-1 medicine, primarily semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), earlier than surgical procedure.
The researchers tracked individuals for 12 months after surgical procedure, together with whole physique weight reduction proportion, problems, and postoperative hemoglobin A1C levels.
The people utilizing a GLP-1 medicine earlier than surgical procedure had been related in age, body mass index (BMI), intercourse, and different traits to those that weren’t utilizing the drugs. Nonetheless, the GLP-1 group had a better prevalence of diabetes and a better common A1C degree. This group additionally had a decrease prevalence of smoking.
At 12 months, the distinction in weight reduction was not statistically vital. Individuals who had used GLP-1 drugs earlier than surgical procedure had misplaced a mean of 24% of their whole physique weight, in contrast with 25% amongst those that had not used the drugs.
A better proportion of whole physique weight reduction was noticed amongst folks with a better BMI earlier than surgical procedure and amongst males.
In the meantime, diabetes and having a sort of bariatric surgical procedure referred to as a sleeve gastrectomy had been related to a decrease proportion of weight reduction.
Mir Ali, MD, a bariatric surgeon, bariatric drugs specialist, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Middle at Orange Coast Medical Middle in Fountain Valley, CA, famous that the examine’s findings weren’t stunning.
“As a result of folks are inclined to lose a sure proportion of their beginning weight after bariatric surgical procedure, it is sensible that sufferers who start at an identical BMI can be anticipated to lose an identical quantity of weight. So, in that context, the examine’s findings will not be notably stunning,” he informed Healthline.
Ali, who was not concerned within the analysis, additionally famous that the examine didn’t particularly account for weight reduction that individuals might have already achieved from GLP-1 drugs earlier than surgical procedure.
“In my follow, I’ve discovered that dropping pounds earlier than surgical procedure may be useful not just for decreasing a number of the dangers related to surgical procedure, but in addition for supporting higher long-term weight-loss outcomes,” he mentioned.
The researchers equally famous that they had been unable to precisely quantify how a lot weight individuals misplaced earlier than surgical procedure or how lengthy they’d been taking GLP-1 drugs.
Paunel Vukasinov, MD, twin board licensed internist and weight problems drugs specialist, with Medical Workplaces of Manhattan, who wasn’t concerned within the examine, famous that the examine solely goes out 12 months.
“For weight problems, I’m rather more all for what occurs years after the surgical procedure as the chance of weight regain will increase,” he mentioned.
Though the examine discovered no vital distinction in weight reduction between individuals who used GLP-1 drugs earlier than bariatric surgical procedure and people who didn’t, consultants say the drugs should still be helpful earlier than and after surgical procedure.
“I might rethink ‘medicine versus surgical procedure’ and as a substitute take into consideration weight problems as a power illness for which we have now a number of complementary therapeutic instruments,” mentioned Vukasinov.
He added that postoperative pharmacotherapy might finally be essential as a result of bariatric surgical procedure shouldn’t essentially be seen as the ultimate remedy a affected person ever receives.
Ali informed Healthline that in his follow, he makes use of GLP-1 drugs in a number of completely different conditions. For instance, for many who are beginning out with a really excessive BMI, utilizing a GLP-1 medicine might help them drop some weight, probably scale back surgical dangers, and enhance their probabilities of reaching a more healthy weight.
He famous that he may even provide GLP-1 drugs to people who attain a weight reduction plateau following surgical procedure and want to lose extra weight.
“They may also be useful for sufferers who expertise weight regain a number of years after their process. In these conditions, GLP-1 drugs may be one instrument we think about as a part of a broader, individualized weight-management plan,” he mentioned.
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