GLP-1 Therapy + Bariatric Expertise = Better Results

With countless online ads promising quick and easy access to GLP-1 medications, it may seem tempting to order them and expect results within days. However, working with an experienced specialist offers significant advantages—and may ultimately make far more sense than navigating the process on your own.

A Trusted Clinician on Your Side

First and foremost, GLP-1 medications aren’t for everyone.

For some, they don’t offer the expected weight loss, while for others, the side effects are too much to handle and require stopping the drug. There are also patients, usually those with a BMI over 40, who will not lose enough weight with GLP-1 drugs alone to achieve the weight loss and obesity-related condition improvement that they need to be healthy.

Optimal outcomes for individuals with a BMI over 40 are achieved through collaboration with a highly skilled bariatric surgeon who also offers a comprehensive medical weight loss program. A solid clinical partnership and patient education can be the difference between success and setback.

It’s important to understand that GLP-1 medications do have limitations. While they may help shed some weight and, in that regard, are living up to their hype as a miracle drug, there are times when they fall short of helping patients achieve the long-term results they hope for.

Structured Diet and Exercise

One of the most concerning issues we currently face, and likely will continue to do so in the future, is the lack of a clearly defined diet and exercise protocol for patients taking GLP-1 medications.

When patients experience significant body mass reduction, some of that weight can come from loss of muscle and bone density rather than fat. To counteract this, patients require guidance on proper protein intake, especially since appetite suppression often results in very low food consumption. Every calorie consumed needs to support long-term health.

Likewise, a structured exercise regimen is just as important. Strength training and consistent physical activity can help preserve both bone and muscle mass.

A skilled bariatric practitioner is well-versed in both dietary and exercise protocols during significant weight loss. We provide clear guidelines every day, ensuring patients know precisely what is expected to maintain health while losing weight safely.

Vitamins and Minerals

Here again, we have a critically important piece of the weight loss puzzle.

As caloric intake decreases, patients can become deficient in essential vitamins and nutrients. Currently, there are few, if any, standardized protocols to ensure that regular blood work is performed and analyzed, or that patients are taking a multivitamin and any additional supplements needed to correct deficiencies. Going it alone with GLP-1 medications can be risky and lead to fatigue, bone loss, anemia, and other health complications if not monitored properly.

A postoperative bariatric program, adept at prescribing and monitoring a tailored vitamin and mineral regimen, helps prevent common nutrient gaps in essentials such as iron, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.

Not Closing Any Doors

Lastly, patients need to leave their options open. For most, the hope is that GLP-1 injections won’t be a lifelong requirement; in an ideal scenario, they could eventually discontinue the injections and maintain a healthy lifestyle without the weekly doses. Unfortunately, studies show that even with modern GLP-1 therapy, many patients regain weight and return to their baseline over the following year if treatment discontinues or lifestyle changes are not supported.¹ This can be both discouraging and costly for the individual and the healthcare system.

Bariatric practices, however, have developed methods that use GLP-1 therapy strategically. Before surgery, it can help shrink the liver, making the procedure safer. Postoperatively, it may enhance weight loss or help patients overcome frustrating plateaus, providing support when progress stalls and offering a path forward without the need for immediate additional procedures.

Since our inception, we’ve emphasized that weight loss is never one-dimensional. The GLP-1 revolution offers an exciting option for patients who previously had few viable or straightforward ways to lose excess body weight, but it’s important to understand its limitations.

Working with a highly experienced bariatric program like ours provides multiple pathways to success, often combining GLP-1 therapy, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and, when appropriate, bariatric surgery. Partnering with a practice that can guide you to the right therapy at the right time is critical for sustainable weight loss and overall health.

Contact Advanced Bariatrics and Surgical Specialists to learn more about our medical weight-loss program and determine whether bariatric surgery or a combination of approaches may be the best option for you. We work with patients across all BMI ranges to create individualized strategies that address excess weight safely and effectively.

¹Quarenghi, M., Capelli, S., Galligani, G., Giana, A., Preatoni, G., & Turri Quarenghi, R. (2025). Weight Regain After Liraglutide, Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Interruption: A Narrative Review of Randomized Studies. Journal of clinical medicine, 14(11), 3791. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113791.