Metabolic Surgery Numbers Plunging? Not Exactly

Back in October, JAMA Network Open published a research letter suggesting that metabolic surgery numbers were “plunging” because of GLP-1 medicines. They claimed to observe a 26% drop in surgeries between 2022 and 2023 for privately insured patients. A few months later, the authors issued a correction and said the actual drop was more like 9%. Oops.

And now, ASMBS has issued a careful accounting of total procedures in 2023 and they showed only a 3.5% drop in total procedures. Most of that was because of a drop in gastric sleeve procedures. The number of gastric bypass operations actually went up a bit.

So no, metabolic surgery numbers are not “plunging” because of Ozempic.

Sustained Benefits

The gap between that popular narrative of plunging numbers for surgery and reality is not surprising. We see this kind of thing over and over again in reporting and even peer-reviewed publications on obesity, nutrition, and health.

The truth is that metabolic surgery offers some very durable benefits, supported by solid data on long-term outcomes. In announcing these new numbers, ASMBS offers good perspective:

“Despite challenges, including limited access, stigma, and the rise of GLP-1 medications, the number of bariatric procedures performed in 2023 declined by just 3.5% compared to the previous year.

“This slight decrease is less than many anticipated and reinforces a vital truth: metabolic and bariatric surgery remains the most effective, long-term treatment for the disease of obesity. Each procedure represents a life transformed and ASMBS members continue to lead this work – one patient at a time.”

Growth in Numbers Seeking Care

Plunging numbers for metabolic surgery? We doubt it. Surgery is one of an expanding range of effective tools for managing this complex, chronic disease.

What we see as the real, enduring trend is more people seeking care as they understand how good the options for obesity care are becoming.

Click here for all the details on the new numbers from ASMBS. For further perspective on the trends and benefits of metabolic surgery, click here, here, here, and here.

Falling Man, painting by Max Beckmann / Wikimedia Commons

Subscribe by email to follow the accumulating evidence and observations that shape our view of health, obesity, and policy.

April 16, 2025