Is Ozempic As Effective As Bariatric Surgery?
Some influencers on social media are describing Ozempic (as well as Moujaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound) as ‘miracle’ weight loss drugs. These folks are reporting that Ozempic can lead to sustained, long-term weight loss even in the absence of lifestyle intervention. Some are even claiming that Ozempic is as effective for weight loss as bariatric surgery.
Unfortunately, while some outlier patients are experiencing exceptional results, for the average patient these claims are overblown and sometimes even outright false. Ozempic and Mounjaro are medications approved for treatment of type 2 diabetes, but they are not approved by the FDA for weight loss. The same drug under a different name (Wegovy) and a related drug (Zepbound) are currently approved for weight loss. Clinical trials do report that Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound can lead to better weight loss than traditional medications, however these same results show that while these medications are closer to bariatric surgical results than earlier generation weight loss medications, for the average patient the weight loss results still are not at the level of bariatric surgery and these results are only sustained as long as the medication is continued. Ultimately, if you are looking for sustained and long-term weight loss and a chance to beat obesity, then Ozempic is not going to be as effective as many weight loss surgeries.
Let’s walk through the numbers together.
Ozempic, Wegovy, Moujaro, Zepbound
Patients on Ozempic or Wegovy on average lose around 16% of their body weight.
Patients on Mounjaro or Zepbound on average lose around 21% of their body weight.
These losses progress slowly and are only sustained as long as the medication is continued.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Short-Term Weight Loss
Patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery lose an average of 30% of their excess body weight within the first three months.
Long-Term Weight Loss
Over the course of a year, patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery lose an average of 60-70% of their excess body weight. That can often translate to 100 or even 200 pounds. Imagine how that would feel.
Complications
At a certified ASMBS comprehensive MBSAQIP center like the BMCC, the complication rate for bariatric surgery is well under 5%. Gastric sleeve surgery is often an out-patient procedure, and is as safe as any other outpatient procedure such as gallbladder surgery.
It would be nice if weight loss medications were not associated with complications, but there are also potential complications from using Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound. These medications can cause endocrine tumors such as thyroid and pancreatic tumors and possibly cancer. They can also cause gastroparesis, or paralysis of the stomach; or pancreatitis; resulting in severe symptoms such as vomiting, severe abdominal pain, and hospitalization.
Cost
Self-pay pricing for the sleeve is $12,250 at the BMCC and represents a comprehensive value to every patient that is around $2000 cheaper than just 1 year of Ozempic with much better long-term results. However, if your insurance has benefits, they will cover the cost of the procedure for you.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Short-Term Weight Loss
Patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery lose an average of 35% of their excess body weight within the first 3 months.
Long-Term Weight Loss
At the BMCC, our gastric bypass patients typically lose 65-90% of their excess body weight within the first year and keep it off.
Cost
$18,650 at the BMCC.
Duodenal Switch Surgery
Short-Term Weight Loss
Patients who undergo duodenal switch surgery lose an average of 40% of their excess body weight within the first 3 months.
Long-Term Weight Loss
At the BMCC, our gastric bypass patients typically lose 80-100% of their excess body weight within the first 9 months and keep it off.
It’s important to note that weight loss for all three surgeries does depend on individual factors including how carefully you adhere to the diet and exercise regimen that our team will help you to develop post-surgery.
Cost
$20,060 at the BMCC.
Ozempic
Short-Term Weight Loss
Ozempic is not FDA approved for weight loss, and weight loss induced by Ozempic is typically very modest. According to one study, patients suffering from class 3 obesity (BMI >40) experienced an average weight loss of just 5.3% of their body weight after 3 months on Ozempic. That’s about 16 pounds.
Long-term Weight Loss
Long-term weight loss for Ozempic is also very modest. One study measured patients who took Ozempic for 68 weeks along with intensive lifestyle modification (diet and exercise), compared with patients who underwent the same intensive lifestyle modification but who received a placebo instead of Ozempic. Even after 68 weeks (over a year into treatment), the patients who took Ozempic had only lost 12.5% more of their bodyweight than the placebo group. That’s about 28 pounds.
Even more concerningly, because Ozempic functions by making you feel fuller for longer, there’s no guarantee that even this modest weight loss will remain after a patient stops taking Ozempic. When they stop taking Ozempic, they may experience less fullness the way they did before starting to take Ozempic, and return to their old dietary habits–which may lead to weight regain.
One of the key benefits of bariatric surgery is that the weight loss is lasting. Most of our patients lose weight and keep it off. By contrast, Ozempic may not contribute to lasting or long-term weight loss; the results are unlikely to sustain if you ever stop taking the medication.
Complications
Some social media influencers are claiming that Ozempic has no side effects and is completely safe. Unfortunately, this is not true.
What are the side effects of Ozempic? First, we must reemphasize that Ozempic is not approved by the FDA for weight loss. Second, studies show that taking Ozempic can lead to many side effects. One study found that of patients who took weekly subcutaneous injections of 1.7mg to 2.4mg of Ozempic, 48.6% experienced negative side effects. The most common side effects were nausea and vomiting (36.6% of patients), diarrhea (8.6%) and fatigue (6.3%).
Cost
Ozempic costs roughly $1,300 per month out of pocket, and fewer insurers are covering it. For most patients, the cost of Ozempic is therefore around $15,600 per year ($1,300/month x 12 months).
Some companies are trying to lower the price by experimenting with Ozempic’s formula and adding untested peptides in order to get around patents. This can reduce the cost, but it is important to note that these new combinations of peptides are untested and may be unsafe. Taking medication that has not been tested in clinical trials can be very dangerous.
Taking the Next Step On Your Weight Loss Journey
When you suffer from obesity, it can be tempting to start looking for any way out. Additionally, a lot of the influencers praising Ozempic sound very credible at first glance.
However, any time you are considering a new medication, it is important to do your due diligence. Below are studies that examine the impact of Ozempic on patients’ weight if you would like to read more:
Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity | NEJM
A quick guide to the STEP trials | diabetes.medicinematters.com
Because we care for you, we do not recommend that you take Ozempic as the next step on your weight loss journey. There are other safer and more effective ways to lose weight, including surgery for weight loss.
If you would like to learn more about your weight loss surgery options, please feel free to browse around the site or give our friendly office staff a call. Many of our patients say that surgery for weight loss was the best decision they ever made.
“We were no longer prisoners in our own bodies, we were no longer handicapped by our weight, we were living and moving and feeling better then we had felt in so many years.”–Lisa and Chris Chesrown, duodenal switch surgery patients.
If you’re suffering, don’t wait. Contact our Denver office today.
