A newly published study has revealed that semaglutide, a widely used, prescription-only medication initially developed for type 2 diabetes and now also authorised for obesity, drives significant weight reduction in obese mice, and offers similarly strong benefits whether given alone or alongside sleeve gastrectomy surgery. This discovery raises important implications for healthcare, especially in light of the NHS’s escalating obesity crisis and lengthy waiting lists for bariatric surgeries.
Researchers explored whether pairing semaglutide with sleeve gastrectomy (SG), a common surgical intervention for severe obesity, could enhance weight-loss outcomes in mice beyond what semaglutide alone achieves. Their aim was to determine if combining the drug with surgery offered any incremental advantages.
Some key findings were noted from the study:
- The combination of semaglutide plus sleeve gastrectomy did boost weight loss and metabolic improvements.
- However, semaglutide by itself produced weight-loss and metabolic results comparable to the combination therapy.
In simpler terms: while surgery plus semaglutide did work, it did not outperform semaglutide on its own. That raises a fascinating possibility: could semaglutide alone be a viable alternative to surgery in certain situations?
Sleeve gastrectomy is one of the most common bariatric surgeries carried out on the NHS, but access is often delayed due to high demand and limited surgical capacity. If semaglutide proves to be similarly effective on its own, it could offer a non-surgical alternative for patients currently stuck on waiting lists. This might ease pressure on overstretched hospitals while also sparing some patients from undergoing invasive operations.
For many people living with obesity, surgery is a daunting prospect. Some are reluctant because of the risks associated with anaesthesia, while others have medical conditions that make them unsuitable candidates for the procedure. In this context, semaglutide could provide a valuable new option, a less invasive treatment that still delivers meaningful weight loss and improves health outcomes.
Cost will remain an important factor. Semaglutide is not cheap, and questions about long-term affordability for the NHS are likely to arise. But surgery carries its own significant expenses, including operating theatre time, hospital stays, and potential complications. If further studies confirm that semaglutide alone can achieve results comparable to surgery, the drug may ultimately prove a more efficient route for both patients and the health service.
However, there are some caveats that one should keep in mind:
- This was a mouse study, not yet in humans. Biological responses can differ significantly between species.
- Whether semaglutide alone replicates these effects in human obesity remains to be proven through well-designed clinical trials.
- The long-term durability of semaglutide’s effects, potential side effects, and optimal dosing strategies require further exploration.
With obesity rates continuing to rise and surgical waiting lists under pressure, the NHS has been looking closely at alternatives to bariatric surgery. The findings from this latest research could point towards a valuable new tool if similar results are confirmed in humans, potentially offering a way to reduce demand for operating theatres while still delivering effective treatment.
Semaglutide is already licensed for use in managing obesity under the brand name Wegovy in patients who meet specific BMI thresholds, and it is increasingly being prescribed under specialist guidance. Should further evidence show that the drug can match the outcomes of surgery, bodies such as NICE may be prompted to update clinical guidelines, ensuring more patients can benefit from non-surgical options.
Researchers stress, however, that more work is needed before any shift in policy. Direct trials comparing semaglutide with surgery, and assessing whether combining the two brings additional benefits, will be vital in shaping how the NHS uses these treatments in the years ahead. If replicated in humans, this could reshape obesity treatment pathways, offering a less invasive, potentially equally effective alternative to surgery.
