Dr. Joe Northup, a renowned metabolic and bariatric surgeon, has been elected the 40th president of ASMBS. He aims to ensure patients understand the role of surgery in comprehensive obesity care.
A large real-world study comparing bariatric surgery to GLP-1 drugs found that surgery produced significantly greater weight loss and higher rates of obesity-related disease remission. After 12 months, patients who underwent surgery achieved more than 20% greater weight loss than those treated with GLP-1 therapy.
A new study found that bariatric surgery offers significantly greater protection against major adverse cardiovascular events compared to GLP-1 drugs. After five years, surgical patients were nearly 16% less likely to develop heart attacks, strokes, and deaths compared to those treated with GLP-1 drugs.
A recent analysis found that GLP-1 prescriptions have grown exponentially, while bariatric surgery procedures have declined in recent years. The study revealed that over 90% of patients with severe obesity receive no treatment, highlighting the need for increased access to weight-loss therapies.
Patients treated with GLP-1 drugs before surgery lost more weight than those who went directly to surgery, with total weight loss increasing to over 25% after gastric bypass and 20% after sleeve gastrectomy.
The number of metabolic and bariatric surgery procedures in the US declined by over 20% between 2023 and 2024, falling below 200,000 for the first time since 2020. The decline is attributed to rising obesity rates and increased use of GLP-1 medications, with significant shifts seen in the types of operations being performed.
New data show that over 50% of patients with obesity and CKD experienced a significant reduction in kidney failure risk, as well as a nearly 75% drop in mortality rate after undergoing bariatric surgery. This study highlights the transformative impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery on chronic disease outcomes.
A real-world analysis of over 90,000 patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes reveals that metabolic and bariatric surgery is the more affordable treatment option compared to GLP-1 drugs. Total costs for GLP-1 therapy were $17,000 more than sleeve gastrectomy and $7,200 more than gastric bypass after two years.
Dr. Richard M. Peterson has been elected as the new president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He aims to increase utilization of life-saving bariatric surgery, making it available to those who can benefit. The society reports over 270,000 metabolic and bariatric procedures performed in 2023.
A new study found that self-esteem scores doubled within one year of weight-loss surgery, with the highest increases seen among those who lost the most weight. The study also highlighted the importance of understanding and addressing weight stigma in obesity treatment.
A new multi-specialty guidance provides clarity on the usage of GLP-1 receptor agonists before elective surgery and gastrointestinal endoscopies. For most patients, these medications can be safely continued, but individual risk factors for complications should be assessed prior to surgery.
A study published in Surgical Endoscopy found that the cost of taking popular anti-obesity medications like Saxenda or Wegovy exceeds that of metabolic and bariatric surgery in less than a year. Bariatric surgery offers more permanent and rapid weight loss, with significant long-term cost savings.
A new survey found that nearly a third of Americans worry more about obesity due to COVID-19, with 28 million people considering weight loss methods. The survey also showed that nearly 90% with obesity have tried to lose weight at some point in their lives, but many underestimate the effectiveness of treatments like weight-loss surgery.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends earlier and more intensive treatment of childhood and teen obesity, citing evidence that diet and exercise alone are insufficient. The ASMBS supports this guideline, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for better outcomes.
The new guidelines, issued by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO), recommend metabolic and bariatric surgery for individuals with a BMI of 35 or more, regardless of obesity-related conditions. The guidelines also endo...
Researchers found that weight-loss surgery patients saw significant reductions in several types of cancer incidence and improved survival rates compared to non-surgical patients. The 10-year incidence of any new cancer was lower and the 10-year survival rate was higher for bariatric group patients.
A new study reveals that weight bias is pervasive across racial and ethnic groups, with Hispanic and Black adults experiencing it at higher rates. The study also found that nearly half of all respondents support laws against weight-based discrimination, highlighting the need for greater awareness and understanding of this issue.
A recent study reveals that patients with lower body mass indexes (BMIs) could benefit from weight-loss surgery due to its effectiveness in treating type 2 diabetes and other comorbidities. The study found that patients with Class I obesity who underwent weight-loss procedures had shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and improv...
The ASMBS emphasizes the effectiveness of metabolic and bariatric surgery in treating severe obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. The organization recommends carefully considering individual patient factors and local COVID-19 prevalence before resuming procedures.
A new web-based calculator predicts a patient's likelihood of dying from complications or experiencing serious health issues due to type 2 diabetes and obesity, whether they undergo metabolic surgery or continue with standard medical therapy. The Individualized Diabetes Complication Risk Calculator provides a personalized risk score ba...
A new study presents evidence that patients with a BMI of 30 or higher may achieve greater health benefits from weight loss surgery than previously thought. Researchers found that these patients are more likely to reach a healthy weight, have improved quality of life and resolve type 2 diabetes.
Patients who underwent metabolic surgery had a lower risk of developing systolic heart failure and dying from recurrent myocardial infarction compared to those without surgery. The study found significant cardiovascular benefits of metabolic surgery, emphasizing its potential as part of the treatment plan for patients with severe obesi...
Women with a genetic predisposition for breast cancer were 2.5 times more likely to develop malignancy without weight-loss surgery, but the risk was significantly reduced after bariatric or weight-loss surgery. The study found that weight-loss surgery cut the overall risk of developing cancers linked to obesity by 20 percent.
A new study found that bariatric surgery significantly reduces the risk of cancer in patients who lose at least 20% of their body weight. The risk was reduced by 50% compared to those who did not experience significant weight loss after surgery.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends greater access to weight-loss surgery for children and adolescents with severe obesity. The ASMBS has endorsed the new policy, which aims to increase access to evidence-based treatments that reduce the burden of severe obesity-related diseases.