Energy balance
Bariatric weight loss surgery is significantly more effective than pharmacotherapy and lifestyle modifications for long-term weight loss and improvement of comorbid conditions in eligible patients, yet remains severely underutilized.
If you have severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40, or ≥ 35 with health issues, or ≥ 30 with diabetes) and lifestyle changes haven't worked, bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term solution, far surpassing drugs and diet alone. It improves diabetes and heart health significantly. However, it is rarely recommended by doctors due to misconceptions about risk. If you meet the criteria, ask your doctor for a referral to a bariatric specialist.
A substantial body of evidence has demonstrated that weight loss surgery is more effective in promoting long-term weight loss and in improving associated comorbid conditions than intensive lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy. ... Despite its effectiveness and safety, only 0.5% of eligible patients receive this treatment.
Why this rating
Based on a 'substantial body of evidence' and citations to standards of care.
Source
Antiobesity drug therapy: An individualized and comprehensive approach
Yael Mauer et al. · Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine · 2021
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