health π©Ί GLP-1 drugs won't replace bariatric surgery, experts say
Specialists at the International Congress on Obesity 2026 in Mexico City stressed that GLP-1 drugs and bariatric surgery should integrate, not replace, each other. Experts noted that both pharmacotherapy and surgery have limitations, requiring a patient-centered care model for better outcomes. Official guidelines combining these therapies were first published in 2024 by IFSO. While drugs help in earlier stages, surgery offers greater weight loss magnitude for extreme obesity. The future points towards a combined approach, starting minimally invasive and escalating as needed. π©Ί