Surgery Outperforms Ozempic for Long-Term Health – Cleveland Clinic Study
A new Cleveland Clinic study shows that long-term health surgery delivers stronger benefits than medications like Ozempic. People with obesity and type 2 diabetes who chose surgery lived longer and faced fewer complications. Meanwhile, those using GLP-1 drugs achieved smaller and less lasting improvements.
What the Study Found
Over ten years, patients who underwent metabolic surgery lost around 21% of their body weight. In contrast, those taking GLP-1 medications lost only about 7%.
Surgery also lowered the risk of death by 32% and reduced major heart issues by 35%. It cut the risk of serious kidney disease by 47% and diabetes-related eye damage by 54%.
Although GLP-1 drugs offered benefits, surgery clearly provided more lasting results
Why This Matters
Weight-loss drugs have helped many people take control of their health. However, this study suggests surgery may lead to greater long-term success. The procedure changes how the body handles food and metabolism, something medication alone cannot fully achieve.
Still, surgery isn’t for everyone. Doctors should assess each patient’s health, goals, and potential risks. For best results, any treatment should include healthy eating, regular exercise, and ongoing medical guidance.
In short, for those managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, long-term health surgery appears to offer stronger and more sustainable benefits than medication alone.
