A one-off weight-loss treatment that has been around since the 1950s is far superior than drugs like Ozempic when it comes to shifting pounds.

A significant recent study has revealed that bariatric surgery, which entails reducing the stomach’s size, is up to five times more effective than the new popular injections.

In New York City, researchers evaluated weight loss results for over 50,000 obese individuals who either used medications similar to Ozempic or underwent bariatric surgery.

After accounting for factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), and other health issues, the experts discovered that those who underwent surgery shed an average of 58 pounds over two years, equating to nearly one-quarter of their body weight.

But people taking GLP-1 drugs for the longest time lost just seven percent on average, or less than 20 pounds.

The team suggested this disparity could be due to up to 70 percent of patients on weight loss drugs stopping the treatment before their prescriptions run out due to harsh side effects or not getting the results they want quickly. 

They are now urging people considering using Ozempic-like drugs to ‘adjust their expectations.’

Another study unveiled today found people who had bariatric surgery were up to 18 percent less likely to develop psychiatric disorders like anxiety and substance abuse disorder. 

Reality stars Heather Gay (left) and Dolores Catania have both admitted to using weight loss drugs

About 40million Americans and 500,000 Brits report taking weight loss drugs like Ozempic or Wegovy at some point in their lives (file photo)

The authors of both studies warned patients looking to lose weight should considered these risks before starting a weight loss shot or opting for surgery. 

Dr Avery Brown, lead author of the first study and surgical resident at NYU Langone Health, said: ‘Clinical trials show weight loss between 15 percent to 21 percent for GLP-1s, but this study suggests that weight loss in the real world is considerably lower even for patients who have active prescriptions for an entire year. 

‘We know as many as 70 percent of patients may discontinue treatment within one year.’

About one in eight Americans – about 43million – report taking a GLP-1 agonist like Ozempic or Wegovy at some point in their lives, along with 500,000 in the UK. 

And recent research shows their popularity has soared 600 percent since 2019.

Meanwhile, 300,000 Americans and 7,000 Brits undergo weight loss surgery each year. 

These surgeries involve decreasing the size of the stomach or changing how the digestive system works to make patients eat less and lose weight.

Both studies were unveiled this week at the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington DC. Neither team has published the full results. 

The first study looked at 51,085 patients from NYU Langone Health and NYC Health + Hospitals who had bariatric surgery or were prescribed semaglutide of tirzepatide – the active ingredients in Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro between 2018 and 2024.

Those who had surgery underwent either sleeve gastrectomy or Roux en-Y gastric bypass.

The former reduces stomach size by 80 percent by creating a sleeve-like shape, while the former creates a small pouch and connects it directly to the small intestine so it bypasses part of the stomach.

Over the course of two years, surgical patients on average lost 58 pounds or 24 percent of their total body weight. 

Those taking GLP-1s for six months lost 12 pounds or 4.7 percent of their total body weight, while patients who stuck to the shots for a year lost seven percent of their body weight. 

The researchers did not look at the effects of GLP-1s after two years. It’s unclear exactly why, but this could be because so many users quit before this mark.  

Dr Ann Rogers, president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery who was not involved in the study, said: ‘While both patient groups lose weight, metabolic and bariatric surgery is much more effective and durable.

‘Those who get insufficient weight loss with GLP-1s or have challenges complying with treatment due to side effects or costs, should consider bariatric surgery as an option or even in combination.’ 

The researchers speculate patients may stop weight loss shots before their prescription runs out due to not getting the results they want fast enough. Additionally, they may suffer harsh side effects like stomach paralysis and blindness.

And the second study released this week showed they may be more likely to suffer anxiety, cognitive issues or psychotic disorders.

Researchers suspect people getting weight loss surgery may have better results than those on Ozempic because a large percentage of GLP-1 users quit using the drugs. Side effects could be to blame. Brea Hand (left), for example, told DailyMail.com she required five hospital visits before doctors diagnosed her with gastroparesis, which was allegedly caused by Ozempic. And Brad Roberts claimed in a lawsuit the drug gave him joint and muscle pain

That study, from researchers at Tulane University in Louisiana, looked at 33,600 patients who had bariatric surgery and 33,600 who were perscribed GLP-1 medications for five years.

They found people who had surgery were 54 percent less likely to develop cognitive deficits like memory issues, 18 percent less likely to have anxiety and 17 percent less likely to develop substance abuse issues than people on weight loss drugs. 

While it’s unclear exactly why bariatric surgery lowered these risks, the experts suggested it could be due to surgery causing faster, more consistent results.  

Dr Shauna Levy, study co-author and chief in the Division of MIS/Bariatric surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, said: ‘The study shows metabolic and bariatric surgery confers a strong protective effect against common mental health disorders in a head-to-head comparison with GLP-1 pharmacotherapy.

‘The data supports embedding psychiatric screening and support within both surgical and medical obesity programs to help reduce the potential mental health burden after treatment. 

‘Further investigation is needed, however, to determine why the psychological impact is so different between treatment modalities.’