It’s no secret that injectable anti-obesity medications — like GLP-1 receptor agonists such as Wegovy®, Ozempic®, and Mounjaro® — have become household names. They’ve made headlines with impressive weight-loss numbers and even unexpected health benefits beyond shedding pounds. It’s why approximately one in eight American adults has used weight loss injections.
But even with these advances, bariatric surgery continues to stand strong as the most effective option for long-term obesity management.
Below, board-certified general surgeon Dr. Mikhail A. Botvinov explains why bariatric surgery is still a vital option in a world full of weight loss injections.
GLP-1 use more than doubled from 2022 to 2023, while bariatric surgery rates dropped 8.7%.
That being said, bariatric surgery isn’t getting phased out, and here’s why:
Weight loss injections may not require the same downtime as bariatric surgery, but bariatric surgery excels in two important areas:
A real-world study showed that people undergoing bariatric surgery lost approximately 24% of their initial body weight over three years — about five times more than those using GLP-1 injections, who averaged only 5%–7%.
According to research presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s (ASMBS’s) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting, surgical patients lost an average of 26.5% of body weight over two years, compared with just 5.7% among GLP-1 drug users.
Multiple studies have shown that people who undergo bariatric surgery continue to maintain their weight loss even 20 years later.
Bariatric surgery cuts your risk of obesity-related cancers and cancer mortality significantly — 32% lower risk of developing cancer and 48% lower risk of death from cancer compared with nonsurgical obese adults.
Surgery can drastically improve hypertension (high blood pressure) control. People who had bariatric surgery experienced an 80.7% reduction in hypertension medication, but those who used weight loss drugs only saw a 13.7% reduction.
While weight-loss injections can cost hundreds to over a thousand dollars a month — averaging $11,628 per year — bariatric surgery is a one-time procedure that may be covered by insurance for some people.
The savings don’t stop there. Reduced medication use (for obesity-related health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure), fewer obesity-related health issues, and decreased doctor visits can be substantial.
In other words, surgery proves to be not just medically effective but financially savvy.
Despite their convenience, weight-loss injections may not deliver on promises due to adherence challenges (how well you stick with your plan), side effects, and insurance limitations — issues that may lead you to consider surgery as a more definitive solution.
Here at Bergen Bariatric and Surgical Solutions P.C., we know that bariatric surgery is just one part of your weight loss plan. Dr. Bergen includes exercise plans, nutritional guidance, weight monitoring appointments, and even surgery in his medical weight loss programs.
To learn more about medical weight loss and the benefits of bariatric surgery, call us at 201-778-5344.
Or, simply click here to schedule an appointment.
