GLP-1 agonists and bariatric surgery are top obesity treatments, raising questions of their combined efficacy.A retrospective study found that patients taking GLP-1 drugs before surgery achieved similar 12-month weight loss as non-users (24% vs 25%).Treatment groups had comparable outcomes on surgical complications and diabetes control.
Bariatric surgery patients who took GLP-1 medications prior to surgery lost the same amount of weight after 1 year as individuals unexposed to the blockbuster class of drugs, a retrospective review indicated.
Among 383 patients, those who took a GLP-1 drug before surgery lost 24% of their total body weight at 12 months, while non-users lost 25% (P=0.33), reported Jonathan Carter, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, and colleagues in JAMA Surgery.
Average postsurgical weight loss didn't differ either, at 66 lb (30 kg) and 71 lb (32 kg), respectively (P=0.34). No differences were noted in diabetes control or complications.
"With the rise of GLP-1 receptor agonists for obesity treatment, questions have emerged about potential synergy with bariatric surgery," the authors wrote. "Many patients now present for surgery already taking these medications, prompting investigation into their impact on outcomes."
