Preoperative use of GLP-1 drugs can significantly reduce complications for individuals with extreme obesity undergoing bariatric or metabolic surgery, according to a study presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting. These findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Extreme obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 70 or more, increases the risk of complications during and after weight-loss surgery compared to patients with lower BMIs. The ASMBS presentation highlighted that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, or Mounjaro are effective in reducing weight prior to surgery.
Multimodal Therapy Proves Most Effective
The study followed 113 patients with a BMI over 70 who aimed to lose weight before undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery. They used one of three methods: medically supervised diet and exercise, a single GLP-1 medication (mostly semaglutide), or a combination of multiple GLP-1 drugs.
Patients were treated for an average of 72.9 days. Those using multiple medications experienced the highest total body weight loss (13.1%), followed by single GLP-1 therapy (8.14%), and diet and exercise (5.95%). The most significant BMI reductions occurred in patients treated with combination drug therapy for six to 12 months.
GLP-1 Drug Candidates for Preoperative Use
Dr. John Morton, a bariatric surgeon and professor of surgery at the Yale School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of consulting healthcare professionals to assess risks and determine necessary preoperative weight loss.
“I look for two things: their motivation and their weight-loss goals,” Morton explained. “Accurate weight-loss goals indicate readiness and appropriate motivations, such as improving health, family interactions, or productivity at work. The key takeaway is that there are many options for those with extreme obesity, and consulting accredited centers is crucial for determining the best approach.”
Morton was not involved in the study but stressed the value of seeking professional guidance to optimize preoperative weight loss strategies.
