Are you someone who had weight-loss surgery but then gained some pounds back?
Don’t lose hope! A recent study led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that new drugs can help you get back on track.
It turns out, these anti-obesity medications are quite good at dealing with the post-surgery weight gain. The study’s findings were published in the ‘Obesity’ journal.
Background
Obesity, a condition where a person has excess body fat, affects more than 40% of adults in the United States. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) provides this shocking stat.
One of the ways people try to beat obesity is through bariatric surgery. This surgery changes your digestive system to help you lose weight.
However, shedding pounds doesn’t always mean they’re gone forever.
Many people who undergo bariatric surgery find themselves gaining weight again, making their fight against obesity-related issues like Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease even harder.
The New Helpers on the Block
There’s a new set of helpers on the block for people struggling with weight regain after bariatric surgery.
These helpers are two FDA-approved anti-obesity drugs: semaglutide (with the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy) and liraglutide (known as Saxenda).
These medications are part of a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists, and they help control your appetite and feeling of fullness.
The lead author of the study, Jaime Almandoz, M.D., Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology at UTSW, and his team previously suggested that this class of drugs could work better than other drugs or lifestyle changes for dealing with weight regain after surgery. But no one had compared these two drugs before.
About the Study
The researchers looked at the health records of 207 adults who had undergone bariatric surgery and were treated for obesity at UTSW’s Weight Wellness Program between 2015 and 2021.
The majority of these patients (90%) were women, the average age was 55, and they came from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
On average, these patients were eight years out from surgery and had regained more than 40% of the weight they lost after their operations.
The team analyzed the results of those who had taken either semaglutide or liraglutide for at least three months.
The Results
Fast forward twelve months, and those taking semaglutide had lost an average of 12.9% of their body weight, while those on liraglutide lost an average of 8.8%.
Not only that, but the folks taking semaglutide were twice as likely to have lost at least 10% of their body weight. And the age, sex, or type of surgery didn’t change these results.
The Conclusion
The study suggests that semaglutide might be the superior drug for treating weight regain after bariatric surgery.
It could play an important role in helping patients manage their weight post-operation. This conclusion is a big deal, considering that there was little data before on how to treat weight gain following bariatric surgery.
So, if you’re in the weight bounce-back battle after your bariatric surgery, there’s good news. With these new drugs in the fight against obesity, the scales are tipping in your favor!
Keep in mind, though, that while this research is promising, always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication.
These findings could help guide the use of these drugs in post-bariatric surgery weight management, but your personal health situation is unique and should be discussed with a medical professional.
Acknowledgements
Other contributors to this study included Jeffrey N. Schellinger, a registered dietitian nutritionist, and Ildiko Lingvay, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine, both from the Division of Endocrinology at UTSW.
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The study was published in Nature Medicine. Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
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