Weight Surgery vs. Medication: Which is Right for Me?

When diet and exercise aren’t helping you reach your weight goals, you might consider other options like weight loss surgery or medication. But which one is right for you? Get the answers you need from weight loss experts.

Not everyone succeeds in losing weight with diet and exercise. When extra weight affects your health, consider other options, such as weight-loss surgery or weight-loss medications.

Both approaches are effective, but deciding which path is best for you depends on your health, lifestyle, and goals.

At Turnquest Surgical Solutions in Houston, Texas, our board-certified bariatric surgeons have seen firsthand how far obesity treatment has advanced. We offer both surgical and medical weight loss options and guide you through the decision-making process so you feel confident in your choice.

Weight loss surgery vs. medication

Weight-loss surgery and weight-loss medication are tools that help people eat less to achieve weight loss. However, they work in different ways.

Weight loss surgery

Weight loss surgery works by reducing the size of your stomach, helping you eat less. Some procedures also reduce hunger by removing the part of the stomach that produces hunger hormones and reduce calorie absorption by bypassing the area of the digestive tract where calories are absorbed.

Weight loss medication

Most weight loss medications work by reducing hunger and helping you feel full more quickly, allowing you to consume fewer calories. The newest weight loss medications, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists like Wegovy® and glucagon-like peptide-1/glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GLP-1/GIP) agonists like Zepbound®, mimic hormones that slow digestion and suppress appetite.

Regardless of which option you choose, success also requires lifestyle changes, including healthy eating, regular exercise, and effective stress management.

Factors to consider

Your weight, overall health, and readiness for change are some of the factors to take into consideration when trying to figure out whether surgery or medication is the best choice for you.

We only recommend weight loss surgery for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher, or a BMI of 30 or higher with Type 2 diabetes. We require that you have any health conditions under control before undergoing surgery.

Weight loss medications are approved for folks with a BMI of 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with weight-related health conditions like Type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Your health history and other prescribed medications are also factors we consider when prescribing weight-loss drugs.

Pros and cons of each option

Understanding the benefits and challenges of each option is part of the decision-making process. Here are some of the pros and cons to take into account when making an informed choice:

Pros of weight loss surgery:

Rapid weight loss
Long-term weight management
Improvement or resolution of weight-related health conditions
Lower risk of chronic disease
Reduces the need for prescription medication

Cons of weight loss surgery:

Permanent change of anatomy
Risk of complications
Required recovery time
Risk of nutritional deficiencies

Pros of weight loss medication:

Significant weight loss without surgery
Reduces appetite
Improves blood sugar
Supports lifestyle changes

Cons of weight loss medication:

Possible side effects
Expensive if not covered by insurance
Effectiveness may decline over time
Risk of weight regain after discontinuation

Studies show that weight-loss surgery can lead to long-term weight management but requires a lifetime commitment. Both weight-loss treatments also benefit health and improve chronic conditions, but current evidence shows that surgery is slightly more effective.

Talking to an expert

When diet and exercise aren’t working, it’s time to reach out for help. We can identify the underlying issue that makes weight loss challenging, discuss your options, and develop a plan that leads to long-term results.

You don’t have to decide on your own whether to pursue surgery or medication to reach your goals; let us help you. Call us at one of our two Houston, Texas, locations or request an appointment through our online portal today.