GLP-1–based medications have transformed care by helping many people lose weight and control blood sugar with fewer side effects than older drugs. Still, long-term outcomes depend on more than short-term weight loss. Procedures used in metabolic surgery create durable shifts in physiology that reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes, which is why surgeons and endocrinologists continue to study when and for whom surgery offers the biggest survival benefit.
Understanding these differences matters for people deciding between treatments and for health systems planning care that supports long-term function and inclusion. The full article examines how outcomes diverge over ten years and raises practical questions about access, follow-up care, and how new drugs may fit into comprehensive plans for human potential and healthy ageing.
Weight-loss surgery dramatically outperformed GLP-1 medications in improving longevity and reducing heart, kidney, and eye complications for people with obesity and diabetes. Over 10 years, patients lost far more weight and required fewer medications. Experts say surgery continues to offer survival advantages even in the age of potent obesity drugs.