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Weight loss

GLP-1 drugs versus bariatric surgery for treating obesity

How do the new weight-loss drugs stack up against surgery? And when might a combined approach help?

By , Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
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A doctor talks with a female patient who is standing on a scale being weighed.

Prescriptions for the weight-loss drugs known as GLP-1s - especially semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) - have surged in recent years. Meanwhile, the number of weight-loss surgeries has declined. Known as bariatric surgery, these procedures remove or bypass part of the stomach.

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About the Author

photo of Julie Corliss

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss has been the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter since 2013. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard … See Full Bio
View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

photo of Eric G. Sheu, MD, PhD

Eric G. Sheu, MD, PhD, Contributor

Dr. Eric Sheu is an associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and chief of the section of bariatric and foregut surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). His clinical practice focuses on bariatric, foregut, … See Full Bio
View all posts by Eric G. Sheu, MD, PhD
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