Procedures like gastric sleeve or gastric bypass physically limit food intake and alter gut hormone signaling, producing effects such as: Reduced appetite Improved insulin sensitivity Favorable changes in metabolism that help sustain long-term weight loss Additional Benefits of Surgery : 2035% average total body weight loss (some patients achieve 50% or more) High rates of remission or significant improvement in: Type 2 diabetes High blood pressure Sleep apnea High cholesterol Long-term cost savings compared to decades of prescription medication A one-time procedure with durable, decades-long results when combined with healthy habits Side-by-Side Comparison To help you see the differences at a glance, heres how GLP-1 medications stack up against bariatric surgery in the real world: GLP-1 Medications Still Have a Role While the study shows bariatric surgery typically delivers greater and longer-lasting results, GLP-1s remain an important tool in certain scenarios: For patients who dont qualify for surgery (BMI under 35 without comorbidities) For those who arent medically cleared for anesthesia or major surgery As a first step before surgery for patients who prefer a less invasive approach Before surgery to reduce liver size and surgical risks After surgery to help maintain results for those who experience weight regain years later How to Decide: GLP-1s or Surgery
Certain genetic variants are associated with reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, potentially increasing oxidative stress vulnerability under metabolic or environmental stress
Katherine Tuttle, professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine The long-term goal isn't just to make the lab results look better, to lower the UACR or keep the eGFR from declining, so much as it is to save lives, hearts, and kidneys. We have extremely good news in that we will have the evidence very soon, Mathieu said
But the GLP-1 medications are still an important tool for treating obesity, Chhabra says
While there is no scientific evidence supporting the need for cycling L-Carnitine, some individuals choose to do so
Medically reviewed by Oghenefejiro Okifo | MD , Harvard Medical School | Henry Ford Hospital - Detroit, MI on March 3rd, 2024
