The success of Ozempic and Wegovy appears to be ushering in a revolution in obesity and type 2 diabetes treatment. Each new iteration of experimental weight loss drugs seems better at helping patients with obesity shed stubborn pounds and keep their diabetes in check.
Promising outcomes from clinical trials showing weight reductions of more than 20% have inspired bold claims that medications could soon trump bariatric surgery, the gold standard for obesity treatment since the 1950s.
But not so fast says leading obesity experts at NYU, Cleveland Clinic and many others. Recent information-packed articles from Very Well Health and the Atlantic provide a fair and balanced look at both options.
Gastric sleeve surgery, the most popular surgery option, removes about three-quarters of the stomach and sculpts it into a banana-sized sleeve. The surgery is performed laparoscopically or robotically, making them minimally invasive, by two surgeons in a little over an hour. Patients usually spend just one night in the hospital and are up and walking around quickly. The surgery is low risk and highly successful with patients generally losing 50 to 80 % of their excess weight in about 18 months. The cost in the US for just the surgery varies greatly by state from about $15,000 to $25,000.
Not only do these procedures cause immense weight loss. They can also treat conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and heart disease, and reduce the risk of developing arthritis, cancer, strokes, and more. A large 2021 review found that weight loss surgery decreased the risk of all-cause mortality by 50%. People with diabetes who underwent surgery saw an extra nine years of life, on average.
Although bariatric surgery has been proven safe and effective over several decades, only about 1% of people who are eligible for a procedure choose to get it. Some patients don’t consider it necessary to treat their obesity, while others are nervous about getting surgery or can’t get the operation covered by insurance.
Ozempic and Wegovy mimic the digestive hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which boosts insulin levels, increases the feeling of fullness, and slows the emptying of the stomach.
Early data from drugmaker Eli Lilly shows that retatrutide, a new GLP-1 receptor agonist drug, may help patients lose more than 24% of their body weight.
There are many issues with these drugs. One, they are new and we don't know the long term effects. The cost is much higher ($800 to $1,400 per month indefinitely). At this point many have insurance coverage but they may not for long due to the high cost.
An even bigger issues is now out there: lawsuits. Yes, the trial attorney bunch isn't wasting any time going after BIG Pharma. The NY Post is reporting that personal injury law firm Morgan & Morgan has filed the lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly and Co. for “a failure to warn” of the side effect. The suit further claims that the companies “downplayed the severity of the gastrointestinal events” from using the drugs.
Morgan & Morgan told The Post that the firm has received 500 other similar inquiries from clients across 45 states, along with claims of injuries allegedly caused by other weight-loss drugs including Wegovy, Rybelsus and Saxenda.
“Ms. Bjorklund, as well as the over 500 clients across 45 states whose claims we continue to investigate, have suffered ongoing gastrointestinal problems that in many cases are severe, debilitating and disabling,” Pennock claimed, noting that “some of the injuries may be permanent.”
“Filing this lawsuit is the first step in holding these companies accountable for their alleged failure to warn patients about the significant risks posed by these drugs,” he added.
As we all know, these type of lawsuits can easily go into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars.
Ozempic and Mounjaro, which are indicated for type 2 diabetes, seem to be as effective at controlling blood sugar as surgery is.
But patients who get surgery typically lose between 40% and 70% of their excess weight.
Wegovy, a version of Ozempic that is labeled for weight loss, doesn’t even come close to that.
Medellin Wellness offers an all inclusive 14 night bariatric surgery program from $5,600.
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