Metabolic Surgery Offers Long-Term Benefits for Obesity and Diabetes Patients

A recent study published in Nature Medicine has shown that metabolic surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, provides significant and lasting benefits for patients with obesity and diabetes. This study followed patients over a ten-year period, revealing that those who underwent surgery lost more weight, maintained better blood sugar levels, and required fewer medications for diabetes and heart disease.

Study Results and Significance

The researchers tracked 3,932 adults with obesity and diabetes, with 1,657 undergoing metabolic surgery and 2,275 receiving GLP-1 medications. The results indicated that surgery was associated with a 32% reduction in the risk of death, a 35% reduction in major heart problems, a 47% reduction in serious kidney disease, and a 54% reduction in diabetes-related eye damage.

Patients who underwent surgery experienced particularly notable weight loss, averaging 21.6% of their body weight compared to just 6.8% for those on GLP-1 medications. Additionally, blood sugar control was better among the surgical group.

Unexpected Benefits of Surgery

Dr. Ali Aminian, Director of the Cleveland Clinic’s Metabolic Surgery Institute and the study’s lead author, noted that the benefits observed extend beyond weight loss. The surgery was linked to fewer heart problems, kidney diseases, and even lower rates of diabetes-related eye damage. These findings confirm that metabolic surgery offers unique and lasting benefits for patients with obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Steven Nissen, Chief Academic Officer at the Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, stated that the surgery provides an additional survival advantage, even in the era of new, powerful medications for obesity and diabetes.

Limitations and Future Suggestions

The researchers pointed out that the study was observational and not a randomized comparison between medications and surgery, and it did not focus specifically on the latest and most potent GLP-1 drugs. They recommend that future studies include direct comparisons between surgery and modern treatments like semaglutide and tirzepatide to better guide treatment decisions.

The researchers also emphasized the importance of continuing surgery as a vital treatment option for obesity and diabetes, noting that the long-term benefits provided by surgery are difficult to achieve with medications alone, as many patients discontinue them over time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study demonstrates that metabolic surgery offers tremendous benefits to patients with obesity and diabetes, surpassing simple weight loss. Despite the availability of new and effective medications, surgery provides lasting results in improving blood sugar control and reducing health risks associated with heart, kidney, and eye diseases. While more studies are needed to compare surgery with modern treatments, this study underscores the importance of surgery as a sustainable and effective treatment option.