Bariatric surgery linked to lower healthcare costs than GLP1-RA weight loss drugs

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-07-02 01:00

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People seeking treatment for obesity incur fewer overall healthcare costs if they get bariatric surgery compared to those who start taking a GLP1-RA drug such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, according to international research. The team matched 2,721 adults who underwent weight loss surgery with 2,721 similar people who started a GLP1-RA, and used electronic medical records to assess the cost of their healthcare use from 2010 to 2022. The researchers say treatment with a GLP1-RA was linked to $109 higher monthly costs to the healthcare system compared to weight loss surgery patients, with most of this cost difference occurring in the first four years. The researchers say most of the difference in cost could be attributed to additional hospitalisations and the need for other medications. They say weight loss surgery generally leads to larger early reductions in weight and blood sugar control improvements, which may be the reason for the cost difference over time.