It’s human nature to think of decisions as binary: this or that. When it comes to attaining sustainable weight loss, however, combining multiple treatment options may yield better results.
The rise in popularity of GLP-1s is impossible to miss. A 2024 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that one in eight American adults had tried a GLP-1 agonist, a type of medication used to treat obesity. Common GLP-1 brand names include Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.
“The draw is easy to understand,” says Dr. Benjamin Duffy, a board-certified Obesity Medicine Specialist with ThedaCare. “GLP-1s typically are considered safe and can offer an effective solution for reaching individual weight-loss goals. They also provide additional benefits that can reduce the risk of other conditions including diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea.”
How to Choose
While it’s impossible to deny the appeal and efficacy of GLP-1s, they’re not the only solution. Obesity is a chronic disease that requires a lifelong, multipronged approach.
The ThedaCare Weight Wellness program offers treatments that range from lifestyle modifications to lifestyle intervention programs to obesity medicine to bariatric surgery.
“Healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle are fundamental to any sustainable weight loss,” says Dr. Ray Georgen, a General Surgeon and Co-Medical Director of ThedaCare Bariatrics. “However, those alone often are not enough. Our multidisciplinary team can help people determine the best solutions for their individual circumstances.”
Medication vs. Bariatric Surgery
People with severe obesity may wonder whether a GLP-1 alone can help them reach their weight management goals, or if they should consider surgery. The answer? It depends.
Many factors may come into play in people’s decision-making. Cost, side effects, and invasiveness and permanence of the treatment option are just a few.
The following chart, compiled in part by Intuitive, maker of the da Vinci robotic surgical system, illustrates a comparison between anti-obesity medications and weight loss surgery. It provides some considerations people may want to explore.
Considering a Combination
IInstead of thinking in terms of either medication or surgery, the answer may be a combination of both. People might arrive at a decision through different pathways.
GLP-1s and other anti-obesity medications can be a great place to start. Some people may find they work to reset habits in a way that leads to sustainable long-term weight loss. Others may struggle with some aspect of the medication, such as affordability, side effects or weight regain after stopping the drug.
“If anti-obesity medications no longer work for someone, we want them to know that bariatric surgery may be an option,” Dr. Georgen says. “We’ve also seen that a GLP-1 combined with surgery can work effectively for people.”
Anti-obesity medications can be used in combination with surgery in a few ways. This type of drug can assist with weight loss prior to surgery. This can enhance the safety of the procedure. Individuals also may use an anti-obesity medication if they experience weight regain following their surgery.
Bottom Line
“Regardless of what weight loss treatment option you choose, it’s important select a reputable program,” Dr. Duffy says. “Working with a multidisciplinary team leads to better long-term results.”
The ThedaCare Weight Wellness program offers a full continuum of services and care. Depending on people’s needs, these include:
- Nutrition and dietitian support
- Exercise guidance
- Health coaching
- Intensive lifestyle coaching
- Obesity medicine care
- Bariatric surgery
Once an individual joins the program, the team will work alongside them to guide them through their options. For some people, a combination of treatments or strategies may work best.
“We treat obesity using an individualized approach,” Dr. Duffy says. “Every person has a unique story, biology and set of goals. Our job is to find the right combination of tools — including lifestyle change, coaching, mental health support, medication and surgery — that work together in the long run.”
Get started in the ThedaCare Weight Wellness program.
- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. (2024).
- Wilding, J., et al, & STEP 1 Study Group. (2022). Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: The STEP 1 trial extension. *Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism, 24*(8), 1553-1564.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. Prices of drugs for weight loss in the U.S. and peer nations. Health System Tracker.
- University of Chicago Medicine. May 30, 2024. Research shows GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs are effective but come with complex concerns.
- Aderinto N, et al. Recent advances in bariatric surgery: a narrative review of weight loss procedures. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Nov 1;85(12):6091-6104.
- Arterburn, D., et al. (2020). Comparative effectiveness and safety of bariatric procedures for weight loss: A PCORnet cohort study. *Annals of Internal Medicine, 173*(9), 694-703.
- Clapp B, et al. Bariatric surgery is as safe as other common operations: an analysis of the ACS-NSQIP. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2024;20(6):515-525.
