What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Weight loss or bariatric surgery is an operation that changes your digestive system so you eat less and feel full sooner. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) reports that there are three main types of weight loss surgery:[15]
Gastric Sleeve In this type of surgery, about 75 to 80 percent of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is shaped like a tube.
Gastric Bypass Also called Roux-en-Y, this surgery involves separating most of the stomach, as well as the top half of the small intestine, so that food goes from the remaining stomach pouch (15 percent of the original stomach) into the mid part of the small intestine.
Adjustable Gastric Band In this surgical procedure, a ring is placed around the stomach to make it smaller. The ring can be adjusted to resize the opening to the stomach. This procedure is rarely done because the band eventually will slip and need to be removed. 
For people with obesity, bariatric surgery can aid weight loss and improve many of the health conditions that are linked with obesity, according to the NIDDK.[16] Average weight loss one year after bariatric surgery was around 33 percent of starting weight, according to one retrospective study.[17]
Surgery does have some risks and side effects, however. Those can include:

Surgical Complications
Side effects of the surgery can include bleeding, infection, leakage in the stomach or small intestine, diarrhea, or blood clots, reports the NIDDK.[18] These affect roughly one-third of bariatric surgery patients. “The risks of metabolic and bariatric surgery are so low now that the death rate and complication rates are lower than laparoscopic gallbladder removal, which a lot of people have had done,” Dr. Kurian says. 
Lifestyle Changes 
Patients who undergo bariatric surgery will also need to make some changes to their diet afterward. Initially, a liquid diet is prescribed immediately after surgery. In a few weeks, soft solid foods can be added, working up to solids. Because bariatric surgery limits the nutrients you can absorb, patients also need to take special vitamin and mineral supplements long-term. Nutritional deficiencies and weight regain are both risks after surgery if care is not paid to the proper diet. 

Cost
It can cost $15,000 to $25,000 or more to have weight loss surgery. Most insurances may cover all or part of that cost, however to qualify you need to have a BMI of 35 or more and have health problems related to your weight, or you need to have a BMI of 40 or higher. Insurance companies may also require you to use a certain surgeon or facility, or prove that you couldn’t lose weight with other methods. You’ll want to contact your health insurance provider to see what’s included in your plan.

What Are Obesity ?
Weight loss have been around for a while, but the newer GLP-1s are different. GLP-1 is a hormone that helps to regulate your appetite and food intake. GLP-1 are injectable drugs that mimic these hormones, according to the NIDDK.[19]
An article published in JAMA reports that with these drugs, people lose 12 to 18 percent of their weight, which is more than has been seen with previous weight loss drugs.[20]
Along with weight loss, GLP-1 drugs may help with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and blood pressure, according to StatPearls.[21]
Weight loss are no magic bullet, however, and have their own range of risks and side effects.

Side Effects
The NIDDK states that possible side effects of GLP-1s, depending on the type of , include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, increased heart rate, and fatigue.

Cost
Per the JAMA article, weight loss drugs can cost $6,500 to $16,000 per year. And people who stop taking them tend to regain the weight they lost, so long-term use might be needed. Most insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover the cost of GLP-1s for weight loss, reports the Obesity Association.[22]
Lifestyle Changes
GLP-1 are intended to be used long term, and weight regain may occur if a patient stops taking them. Additionally, these don’t let you off the hook for making other healthy lifestyle changes. “With both surgery and , lifestyle changes must happen in conjunction with treatment,” says Cassetty. “Pairing treatment with lifestyle modifications will result in the healthiest outcomes.” 

It’s also important to note that while GLP-1 have been used to treat type 2 diabetes since 2004, they’re a relatively new obesity . They are still being studied for this purpose, so scientists aren't sure of their long term effects. 

Explore our recommendations for the best online GLP1 programs, including Henry Meds, Found, and Noom Med.

How to Talk to Your Doctor
If you’re considering weight loss surgery or , you should have a conversation with your healthcare provider about both options. While some spas and centers offer pills, compounded drugs, and injections, it is not advisable to receive treatment from anyone who is not a trained professional. 

An obesity management specialist can help walk you through the options. “When you’re working with providers who specialize in obesity management, they are going to be able to help meet you where you are,” says Cassetty. “You know they’re taking into consideration things like your access to food, your culture, and foods you might want to include. They’re really working with you personally to help you get healthier.” 

To find one:

You can ask your primary care provider to refer you to an obesity specialist.
You can look for a certified specialist with the American Board of Obesity .
If you know you want to see a surgeon, you can find one through the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
When you see a doctor, you may want to ask:

What can I expect to achieve?
What treatment options do you recommend, what are the side effects, and how long should I expect them?
What other health benefits might I see with weight loss? Can I expect to see improvements in my diabetes control or my blood pressure?
What are the risks and benefits of taking weight loss vs. not taking them? What are the risks and benefits of having or not having surgery?
Will I have access to other healthcare providers such as a registered dietitian or a behavioral specialist?
What does my insurance cover?
Summary
If you have obesity and lifestyle changes aren’t helping, you may want to consider either weight loss surgery or weight loss to treat the condition and other health problems. Talk to your healthcare provider about the pros and cons of these options so you can find the treatment that’s best for you.

Everyday Health's Weight Loss Reframed Survey queried 3,144 Americans nationwide ages 18 and older who had tried losing weight in the previous six months. The study was fielded between July 10 and August 18, 2023, across demographic groups, genders, and health conditions. Survey recruitment took place via an online portal, in app, and via email. The margin of error for the sample size of 3,144 is +/-1.7 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.