Two-Year Costs For GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs Higher Than Bariatric Surgery

Over two years, health care costs for people with obesity (body mass index of 35 or higher) and type 2 diabetes were higher for those treated with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) than for those undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), according to a recent study.

The findings come as payer organizations and health systems continue evaluating the long-term affordability of expanding GLP-1 utilization for obesity treatment.

Researchers analyzed data from the STATinMED RWD Insights all-payer claims database to identify 90,769 people treated between 2017 and 2023 with either GLP-1 medications, sleeve . . .