A New York University study comparing bariatric surgery to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss found surgery resulted in five times more weight loss over two years. Surgical patients lost an average of 24% of their weight, compared to 4.7% for GLP-1 patients. The study suggests real-world GLP-1 effectiveness is lower than clinical trial results, due to factors like medication discontinuation, affordability, and lack of supportive care. Researchers emphasize the need for realistic expectations regarding GLP-1 treatments and highlight the importance of understanding the pros and cons of both surgical and pharmaceutical approaches.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.