GLP-1 vs. Bariatric surgery: Choosing wisely

@sandylakes - your success with the GLP1 medications is encouraging. Will you share how you came to switch GLP1s during your treatment thus far?

@sandylakes

Amen! I agree with what you wrote = “I was offered surgery multiple times, but I felt they were operating on the wrong organ. I knew my brain was not helping me, with food messages constantly intruding my life.”

This has also been my experience. I checked into Bariatric surgery back in 2024 (I was 286 lbs) but I was scared off after reading of the many life long complications.

I’m so glad you waited for a better solution = GLP meds. Congratulations on your weight loss and healthier lifestyle.

I’m thrilled with Mounjaro (top dose of 15 mg started May 2026). No more food noise! I used to overeat carbs and never feel full. Potato chips + potatoes + rice + ice cream + bread + pasta. Apparently anything white!🤣

Now Sept 2026 I’m 233 lbs and still losing 5-8 pounds per month. Plus healthy foods and exercise.

I have my new endocrinologist to thank for switching me from Ozempic (which old endocrinologist had me on for 5 years with no weight loss and A1C still above 7).

I’ve learned from personal experience that if one of these new medications doesn’t work after reaching and staying at top dose, advocate for yourself and ask doctor to recommend another…or find a doctor who will be proactive in treating your disease of obesity.

This is what I’ve learned from researching Obesity as a disease. Specifically an neuro-metabolic disease.

Part of brain which manages energy stores tells body to hold on to more fat than it needs. These new medications recalibrate those signals so body wants to store LESS energy and fat.

When treating obesity it’s a lifelong process which helps prevent other obesity related conditions which can lead to death = cancer and heart attacks.

All that being said, I realize we are all “snowflakes” (unique) so whatever way you choose to lose weight and gain your health, make sure you go into it with all the information. Do your research and be your own advocate OR bring a trusted advocate with you to appointments. 👍😃

@sandylakes - your success with the GLP1 medications is encouraging. Will you share how you came to switch GLP1s during your treatment thus far?

@celia16 I was morbidly overweight for 20 years, despite being physically active. I was offered surgery multiple times, but I felt they were operating on the wrong organ. I knew my brain was not helping me, with food messages constantly intruding my life. I was afraid I’d be trapped in a battle between a post-surgery body no longer able to eat much, and my unchanged brain constantly telling me I needed to eat. So I waited, hoping for a better solution for me. Now I have one, GLP meds.

Over the past three years, I was able to lose 150 pounds with diet, exercise, and injectables (Wegovy, now Zepbound). I have 50 pounds to get to my goal. These results are better than typical, because I am even more active, spending 200 minutes a week walking briskly. GLP1s stopped the food noise, no more cravings for unhealthy foods.

Perhaps the people you know have the same food noise problem. GLP meds are expensive, and they may wish they could have access to them. I know I was heartbroken when I watched celebs taking them to lose 30 pounds, and I couldn’t afford them to lose 200 pounds. I don’t think anyone wants to stay overweight. We need compassion for this disease, not judgment. You can do something, offer to help pay for meds.

@lisalucier

Switching from Wegovy to
Zepbound (or switching from Ozempic to Mounjaro) =

Wegovy and Ozempic are only GLP-1.

Zepbound and Mounjaro are both GLP-1 plus GIP.

Here’s a deeper dive from online research =
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 is a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, food intake, and blood sugar by signaling fullness to the brain, slowing gastric emptying, and promoting insulin release when needed.

Zepbound works by simultaneously stimulating the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) receptors, making it a dual incretin agonist rather than a medication targeting only one receptor type. GLP-1 receptor activation helps reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and slow gastric emptying, while GIP receptor activation improves insulin sensitivity and directly affects fat metabolism. This dual mechanism contributes to greater weight loss compared to GLP-1-only drugs like semaglutide.

For more info on GLP-1 and GIP and the future of MORE similar meds, I highly recommend the book “Enough - Your Health, Your Weight, and What It's Like to Be Free” by Dr. Ania Jastreboff and Oprah Winfrey. 👍😃