Hormonal
Preoperative use of GLP-1 receptor agonists does not improve long-term weight loss, diabetes remission, or surgical safety outcomes in patients undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery compared to those who do not use GLP-1s.
If you are considering bariatric surgery, using GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic or Wegovy) beforehand does not appear to make your surgery more successful or your weight loss better in the long run. In fact, it may just delay getting the more effective surgical treatment. If you are experiencing side effects from these drugs or they aren't working well enough, switching to surgery is a valid and effective path, but don't expect the drugs to give you a 'head start' on your results.
Among patients who proceeded to surgery after GLP-1 therapy, prior GLP-1 use was not associated with different surgical outcomes.
Why this rating
Retrospective analysis with propensity score matching, but limited by single-center design, small sample size (n=215), and low statistical power (29%) to detect small differences.
Source
Surgical Outcomes in Patients with Preoperative GLP-1 Therapy: A Retrospective Analysis
Adisa Poljo et al. · Obesity Surgery · 2025
DOI 10.1007/s11695-025-08136-5
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