Weight loss medications, including glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), have gained popularity for helping people shed pounds. However, they aren’t always the safest or most effective long-term solution.
While these drugs can aid in weight loss, they often come with side effects, the risk of regaining weight after stopping them, and limitations in treating severe obesity. If you're looking for a more permanent and comprehensive approach, bariatric surgery may be the better option.
Below, board-certified general surgeon Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov and the Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions team discuss why weight loss drugs aren’t always the safest solution and how bariatric surgery may be a better path to reaching your goals.
Prescription weight loss medications can help some people manage obesity, but they come with potential downsides:
Common issues include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. Severe vomiting and diarrhea can increase your risk of acute kidney injury from volume contraction.
Some drugs may also increase the risk of pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, or thyroid cancer (especially after 1-3 years of treatment.)
As with any medication, it’s important to review all side effects and weigh the pros and cons before taking it.
Many people regain weight once they stop taking the medication, which can understandably make long-term weight maintenance difficult. Some people regain as much as 66% of the weight they lost.
Weight loss drugs can help with moderate weight loss, but they often aren’t enough for individuals with a high BMI or obesity-related health conditions.
In a real-world study that examined weight loss results in people with diabetes, only one-third of people sustained greater than 5% weight loss 72 months after treatment.
Compare that with bariatric surgery: Researchers found that people undergoing bariatric surgery lost up to 30% of their initial weight (or about 70% of the excess weight).
Of course, results will vary no matter which path you take. That being said, if you’re facing the complications of severe obesity, you might consider a solution better suited to helping you reach those goals.
Dr. Botvinov can share how weight loss surgery can impact you specifically, but in general:
Obesity raises your risk of multiple heart disease factors, which significantly increases the likelihood of heart disease-related death.
When your risk factors for heart disease (obesity, diabetes, and hypertension) decrease, your risk of a serious cardiac event (heart attack) also decreases. Because bariatric surgery can help address all of these issues, it therefore helps reduce your risk of cardiovascular-related death.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that patients who’ve had diabetes for 10 or fewer years who underwent bariatric surgery had a 62% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with those taking GLP-1 medications. The researchers noted this was due to the greater weight loss associated with bariatric surgery.
Unlike GLP-1 RAs, which require continued use to maintain weight loss, bariatric surgery leads to long-term weight reduction, which, in turn, reduces your risk of obesity-related diseases.
Long-term weight loss is sustained even more when paired with healthy lifestyle habits and nutritional changes.
As many as 50% of people who undergo bariatric surgery experience remission of diabetes and high blood pressure. This can then lead to a reduced dependence on medication. In fact, many people who undergo bariatric surgery can reduce or even eliminate medications for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol after surgery.
Researchers comparing the long-term effects of weight loss drugs versus surgery found that bariatric procedures like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy lead to greater weight loss and improve — or even resolve! — obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
If you've struggled with obesity and have not found success with diet, exercise, or medications, bariatric surgery may be the best option for long-term success. Unlike weight loss drugs, which require continuous use to maintain results, surgery provides a permanent solution that can transform your health and quality of life.
Here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions, Dr. Botvinov provides personalized consultations to help you determine the best path forward for your weight loss and health goals.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and explore the benefits of bariatric surgery, contact our Westwood, New Jersey, office at 201-778-5344 to learn more about your options. You can also schedule an appointment online.
