Bariatric Surgery vs. Ozempic & Semaglutide Drugs: Which Is Better?
Many people struggle to maintain their ideal weight. The more a person has to lose, the more difficult it can be to shed weight through diet and exercise, which is why numerous people undergo bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve. Recently, the media and other sources have talked about Ozempic, a medication intended to treat diabetes that offers promising weight loss results.
As Ozempic draws more attention, surgeons at the Texas Center for Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery in Plano, TX, have heard many people question the effects of bariatric surgery and Ozempic and Semaglutide drugs and which is better. Our surgeons are happy to discuss the benefits of these different types of weight loss treatment to determine which is better suited for our patient’s unique needs.
How Does Ozempic Encourage Weight Loss?
Ozempic, generically known as Semaglutide, is a medication that mimics the GLP-1 hormone, which is released in the stomach when a person eats. Ozempic was originally intended to treat Type 2 diabetes because it triggers the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar levels.
The FDA has also approved certain name brands of Semaglutide to treat obesity. It has been found that higher levels of GLP-1 (which is associated with the use of Ozempic) interact with the brain to suppress the appetite. The use of Ozempic, along with diet and exercise, successfully encourages weight loss in people who are overweight or obese.
How Does Bariatric Surgery Encourage Weight Loss?
Bariatric surgery encourages weight loss by altering the digestive system and is a metabolic surgery. Depending on which bariatric technique is performed, treatment may reduce the stomach’s size, reroute the digestive tract, or both. Bariatric surgery significantly lowers a person’s appetite and limits the amount of calories that a person can consume or that are absorbed by the body. Our Plano patients can expect fast and effective weight loss after bariatric surgery.
Which Technique Offers Greater Weight Loss Results?
The use of Ozempic as a weight loss medication is still fairly new, but an early study of 2,000 obese adults showed promising results. Among the study participants who used Semaglutide along with changes to diet and exercise, around half lost 15 percent of their body weight after 68 weeks, and nearly a third lost 20 percent.
Semaglutide weight loss results are promising, but they still fall short of those of bariatric surgery. On average, bariatric surgery patients lose around five pounds a week during the first couple of months after surgery. Within 18 to 24 months, patients can expect to lose around 65 to 80 percent of their excess weight.
Additional Benefits of Bariatric Surgery
In addition to encouraging rapid weight loss, bariatric surgery offers additional benefits that make it superior to Ozempic. Some advantages of bariatric surgery include:
- Improvement or cure of obesity-related health problems
- Improved longevity
- Faster metabolism
- Long-term weight loss results
Contact Us
Ozempic has garnered a lot of attention recently for its weight loss results, but it still falls short of the benefits of bariatric surgery. To learn about the bariatric procedures offered at the Texas Center for Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery and how they can help you achieve your weight loss goals, send us a message and request a consultation at our Plano practice.