Nutrition & Diet

Beyond Ozempic: How Combining GLP-1 Drugs with Surgery Could Redefine Obesity Treatment

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound have transformed obesity treatment, but specialists say the real breakthrough lies ahead. A new commentary in Gastroenterology updates the POWER framework for obesity care, arguing that medications alone are insufficient. The future model combines GLP-1 drugs with endoscopic procedures like sleeve gastroplasty and bariatric surgery, tailored to each patient using precision medicine and genetic insights. Researchers also push back on BMI as the sole health metric, recognizing obesity as a complex chronic disease affecting multiple body systems. Gastroenterologists are positioned as key players in this integrated approach, especially given their role in treating obesity-linked conditions like fatty liver disease and GERD.