Trending Now - Ozempic's Rise Threatens Weight Loss Surgery Demand and Ethics

WHO:

Gizmodo - Tyler Cohn, a surgeon and associate professor at Loyola University Medical Center, is the lead study author.

Science Daily - Individuals using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

WHAT:

Gizmodo - The estimated number of bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. dropped to 177,297 in 2024, a 23% decrease from 2022.

Gizmodo - Bariatric surgeries peaked at an estimated 230,207 procedures in 2022.

Gizmodo - About 58% of surgeries in 2024 were sleeve gastrostomy, while 33% were gastric bypass.

Science Daily - People using GLP-1 drugs may face more judgment than those losing weight through diet and exercise.

WHERE:

Gizmodo - The study analyzed data from the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (ACS-MBSAQIP) in the U.S.

Gizmodo - Research conducted at Loyola University in Chicago.

WHEN:

Gizmodo - The study findings are being presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS).

Gizmodo - Wegovy was first approved in June 2021.

Gizmodo - Cheaper generic versions of semaglutide are launching in Canada and India this year, with availability in the U.S. expected in 2032.

WHY:

Gizmodo - Researchers suspect that the rise in GLP-1 drug usage is contributing to the decline in bariatric surgeries.

Gizmodo - The marketing of GLP-1 medications is overshadowing scientific evidence supporting metabolic and bariatric surgery as the most effective therapy for obesity.

HOW:

Gizmodo - Researchers analyzed data from ACS-MBSAQIP to estimate the number of bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. between 2020 and 2024.

Gizmodo - Bariatric surgery typically results in a weight loss of 25% to 35% of baseline weight in the first year, compared to an average of 15% weight loss with Wegovy.

(UPDATED May 5, 2026 21:20 UTC)

A new study led by Tyler Cohn, a surgeon and associate professor at Loyola University Medical Center, reveals that the number of bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. dropped to 177,297 in 2024, marking a significant 23% decrease from 2022 when surgeries peaked at over 230,000. The research, which analyzed data from the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, suggests that the rise in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy may be contributing to this decline, as these medications are often marketed more prominently than the scientific evidence supporting bariatric surgery. Interestingly, while about 58% of surgeries in 2024 were sleeve gastrostomy and 33% were gastric bypass, people using GLP-1 drugs may face more judgment compared to those losing weight through traditional diet and exercise methods.