Overview

• Patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass lost about five times more weight over two years—an average of 58 pounds versus 12 pounds for those on semaglutide or tirzepatide.
• Real-world weight loss from GLP-1 medications falls well below clinical trial results of 15%–21% partly because up to 70% of patients discontinue treatment within the first year due to cost and side effects.
• Five-year follow-up data indicate that bariatric surgery patients are 54% less likely to develop cognitive deficits and substance use disorders and 18% less likely to experience anxiety than those on GLP-1 therapy.
• The surge in GLP-1 prescriptions has driven a 30% increase in body lift surgeries as patients seek removal of excess skin after rapid weight loss.
• Clinicians emphasize that GLP-1 drugs remain a key non-surgical option for patients who are not candidates for surgery or prefer ongoing medication despite lower average weight loss.