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A study presented at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery highlighted that bariatric surgeries, specifically sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass, work better in promoting weight loss compared to GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide or tirzepatide.
Researchers from NYU Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals found that after two years, patients who underwent one of these surgical procedures lost an average of 58 pounds, whereas those on GLP-1 treatments lost only 12 pounds.
This amounts to a total weight loss of 24% for surgery patients, compared to just 4.7% for those receiving GLP-1 prescriptions over a six-month period.
Additionally, the study showed that patients on continuous GLP-1 therapy for an entire year did experience more weight loss; however, the amount was still substantially lower than that achieved by patients who had bariatric surgery, with total weight loss reaching 7%.
GLP-1 receptor agonists are key in weight loss drugs developed by companies such as Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Novo Nordisk (NVO).
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