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Until recently, bariatric surgery was considered a first-line treatment for weight loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The study\u2019s authors aimed to understand how the types and numbers of bariatric surgeries have changed in response to the growing popularity of GLP-1 drugs<\/a> and other weight loss treatments<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n After examining data from 2020 to 2024, the researchers observed a decline in the number of bariatric surgeries performed across the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The study highlights how patients and doctors are increasingly opting for surgery alternatives, reflecting evolving attitudes and options to treat obesity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n However, as noninvasive therapies advance, it\u2019s important to track how these shifts affect surgical practices and patient choices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To investigate these trends, the researchers analyzed a large national database called the ACS-MBSAQIP, which tracks bariatric surgeries performed in the United States. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n They focused on surgeries performed from the beginning of 2020 through 2024, including both initial weight loss surgeries<\/a> and follow-up revision or conversion procedures \u2014 procedures performed to modify or adjust earlier operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The data revealed that the overall number of bariatric surgeries reached its highest level in 2022, then declined in the following years. This drop reflects a growing preference for nonsurgical options among patients and healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alongside this reduction, the study found that the types of surgeries being performed have also shifted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n One key finding is a decrease in the frequency of sleeve gastrectomy<\/a>, a common procedure in which a portion of the stomach is removed to reduce its size. While still the most popular surgery, its share of total procedures has steadily decreased since 2020. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In contrast, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgeries<\/a> \u2014 which create a small stomach pouch and reroute the intestines \u2014 have become more common, particularly as conversion surgeries. Many people who initially had a sleeve gastrectomy later undergo a gastric bypass to further aid weight loss<\/a> or address complications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Additionally, the study noted an overall increase in other bariatric procedures, including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and lap-band surgeries<\/a>. This suggests that surgeons and patients are exploring a wider variety of surgical options tailored to individual needs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n By examining these trends, the study sheds light on how the field of weight loss treatment is evolving. It underscores the importance of ongoing research and adaptation in medical practice as new therapies emerge and patient preferences evolve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n John DeBarros<\/a>, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Pivot Weight Loss Center, said he doesn\u2019t necessarily feel this trend is either positive or negative for those seeking help with weight loss. DeBarros wasn\u2019t involved in research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe honest answer would be it depends,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cIt depends on the reason why patients are making that choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If they have researched their options and discussed their decision with a qualified surgeon before making their decision, and they still feel that a GLP-1 medication<\/a> is best for them, that\u2019s patient-centered care, according to DeBarros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhat very much concerns me deeply, however, is when patients bypass surgery simply because GLP-1 feels easier or the less intimidating choice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think the decline in bariatric surgery becomes a grave problem when patients with severe obesity, those with a BMI of 35+<\/a> with serious comorbidities<\/a>, without understanding that surgery may be infinitely more effective for them,\u201d said DeBarros.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Sergey Terushkin, MD, a bariatric surgeon with ThinEra,<\/a> added that he thinks the conversation around GLP-1 medications has become too extreme on both sides. \u201cSome people act like bariatric surgery is suddenly obsolete, other people dismiss the medications completely,\u201d he told Healthline. \u201cNeither is true.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n However, Terushkin, who was also not part of the study, acknowledged that GLP-1 drugs \u201chave absolutely changed the field.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good thing,\u201d he said. \u201cSurgeons shouldn\u2019t be angry that some patients are improving without an operation.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n With more weight loss treatments becoming available, it\u2019s important to understand your options so you can make the best choices for yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n According to Terushkin, bariatric surgery is still the most effective treatment long term, based on years of data.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cSurgery is not just \u2018making the stomach smaller,’\u201d he explained. \u201cIt alters hunger hormones, metabolism, diabetes<\/a> progression, sleep apnea<\/a>, blood pressure<\/a>, [and] mobility.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n