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New analysis findings present a big enhance in the usage of weight reduction medication amongst sufferers present process metabolic and bariatric surgical procedure, signaling an evolution within the administration of weight problems and sort 2 diabetes.
The analysis was offered on the American School of Surgeons (ACS) Medical Congress 2025, held in Chicago, October 4–7.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treating obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes and its related conditions,” mentioned Patrick J. Sweigert, MD, senior writer of the examine and a bariatric and foregut surgeon at The Ohio State College Wexner Medical Middle in Columbus, Ohio.
“We’re entering a new world of multidisciplinary care pathways and a new frontier of weight management that is important for patients and surgeons to think about.”
The analysis staff carried out a cross-sectional examine taking a look at glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) amongst sufferers present process metabolic and bariatric surgical procedure.
Dr. Sweigert and colleagues analyzed almost 365,000 sufferers who underwent major metabolic and bariatric surgical procedure between 2018 and 2024. They used the Epic Cosmos database, which incorporates greater than 300 million affected person information from establishments throughout the nation, to look at prescription patterns for semaglutide and tirzepatide, two of the most recent GLP-1s to hit the market.
Key findings
Preliminary findings point out the proportion of sufferers receiving not less than one GLP-1 prescription within the yr main as much as surgical procedure elevated from 1.8% within the first quarter of 2020 to 29.4% within the fourth quarter of 2024—a 16-fold rise. Use surged throughout sufferers with and with out diabetes, underscoring the increasing position of those medicines in weight problems remedy, impartial of diabetes standing.
Amongst sufferers with out sort 2 diabetes, preoperative GLP-1 use rose 11-fold over the previous three years—from 2.1% within the first quarter of 2022 to 23.2% within the fourth quarter of 2024. By comparability, use amongst sufferers with sort 2 diabetes elevated four-fold, from 11.3% to 45.2% over the identical interval.
The median age of sufferers was 43 years, the median preoperative physique mass index (BMI) of those sufferers was 46. Ladies made up 80% of the pattern, and 33% had a prognosis of sort 2 diabetes.
Lead writer Stefanie C. Rohde, MD, a basic surgical procedure resident at The Ohio State College Wexner Medical Middle, famous that the findings replicate a shift in how bariatric surgical procedure candidates understand their remedy choices.
“While patients previously believed they had to choose between GLP-1 receptor agonists and surgery, we’re now seeing that people are using both,” Dr. Rohde mentioned. “We know that patients can use GLP-1s after bariatric surgery to amplify their weight loss. But all of this is still very new in terms of how to manage patients effectively.”
Going ahead, she added, real-world information reminiscent of that from Epic Cosmos can help the event of evidence-based tips for when to start out, mix, or transition between remedy approaches, whether or not earlier than surgical procedure or through the postoperative interval.
The investigators acknowledged limitations of their evaluation, together with potential inaccuracies in well being document information and uncertainty about whether or not sufferers crammed or took their prescribed medicines.
Mahmoud Abdel-Rasoul, MS, MPH, is examine co-author.
Extra data:
Sweigert P, et al. Preoperative Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Utilization Has Surged Amongst Bariatric Surgical procedure Sufferers, Scientific Discussion board, American School of Surgeons (ACS) Medical Congress 2025.
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American School of Surgeons
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Use of weight reduction medication earlier than bariatric surgical procedure has soared in recent times, examine finds (2025, October 3)
retrieved 4 October 2025
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