Weight Loss Drugs Gain Popularity Among Bariatric Surgery Patients

Strategic Insights -

New research findings indicate a significant increase in the use of weight loss drugs among patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery, signaling a shift in the management of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. The study, presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025, reveals a surge in the use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) such as semaglutide and tirzepatide among bariatric surgery patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • The median age of patients in the study was 43 years, with a median preoperative body mass index (BMI) of 46.
  • Women made up 80% of the sample, and 33% had a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
  • The study analyzed nearly 365,000 patients who underwent primary metabolic and bariatric surgery between 2018 and 2024.
  • The use of GLP-1s, specifically semaglutide and tirzepatide, has surged among bariatric surgery patients, reflecting a shift in how patients perceive their treatment options.
  • Patients are increasingly using GLP-1s after bariatric surgery to amplify weight loss, highlighting the need for evidence-based guidelines on the use of these medications.
  • Study co-author Mahmoud Abdel-Rasoul, MS, MPH, acknowledged limitations in the analysis, including potential inaccuracies in health record data and uncertainty about medication adherence.
  • The authors have no relevant disclosures, and the research was presented as an abstract at the ACS Clinical Congress Scientific Forum.

Statistics:

  • 80% of patients in the study were women.
  • 33% of patients had a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.
  • The median age of patients was 43 years.
  • The median preoperative BMI was 46.
  • 365,000 patients were analyzed between 2018 and 2024.
  • The study used the Epic Cosmos database, which includes over 300 million patient records.

Sources:

  • Sweigert P, et al. Preoperative Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Utilization Has Surged Among Bariatric Surgery Patients, Scientific Forum, American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress 2025.