GLP-1 Use Before Surgery Is Rising
GLP-1 medications have quickly become a cornerstone of modern weight management, reshaping how patients and clinicians approach obesity, diabetes, and metabolic health. These drugs—marketed under names like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro—work by mimicking natural hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar, leading to significant and often life-changing weight loss.
Now, a new study presented at the American College of Surgeons’ annual meeting highlights just how integrated these medications have become in the care pathway for patients pursuing bariatric surgery.
According to research shared by HealthDay, GLP-1 use before surgery has risen 16-fold since 2018. Nearly one in three patients now receive a GLP-1 prescription prior to weight-loss surgery, signaling a major shift in preoperative care.
“While patients previously believed they had to choose between GLP-1 receptor agonists and surgery, we’re now seeing that people are using both,” said Dr. Stefanie Rohde, general surgery resident at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
The study, which analyzed nearly 365,000 patients, found that GLP-1 use among non-diabetic individuals increased from just 2 percent in early 2020 to 23 percent by late 2024. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, the rate rose from 11 percent to 45 percent over the same period.
Senior researcher Dr. Patrick Sweigert, a bariatric surgeon at the same institution, noted, “We’re entering a new world of multidisciplinary care pathways and a new frontier of weight management that is important for patients and surgeons to think about.”
This moment reflects a broader evolution in healthcare. Where weight-loss once relied solely on diet, exercise, or surgical intervention, today’s approach combines medical innovation with behavioral science and technology. GLP-1s can help patients jumpstart progress by quieting the constant hunger signals that sabotage consistency. But even as these drugs open new possibilities, the foundation of long-term health remains the same: habit formation, mindset, and consistency.
That is where Shapa’s Numberless Scale® plays a crucial role.
Shapa removes the anxiety and fixation that often accompany traditional scales by eliminating the number altogether. Instead, we use color-based feedback to show overall progress and trends, shifting the focus from short-term weight changes to long-term patterns.
For individuals using GLP-1 medications, this distinction matters. These drugs can cause rapid changes in appetite and weight early on, which may feel encouraging at first—but as the body adjusts or medication use changes, progress can slow. Shapa helps users maintain perspective through those shifts, ensuring they stay connected to the behaviors that support true, lasting health.
By focusing on behavioral stability, Shapa complements the medical power of GLP-1s. It encourages daily accountability, movement, mindful eating, and reflection—critical habits that medications alone cannot build. For patients preparing for surgery, Shapa helps reinforce consistency during the preoperative period. For those recovering or maintaining their results, it offers a psychologically balanced way to track health without the pressure of numbers.
Healthcare is entering an age where medical treatments and behavioral tools must work hand-in-hand. As GLP-1 medications become more integrated into patient care, tools like Shapa’s Numberless Scale® ensure that individuals don’t just achieve results—they sustain them.
Because in the end, medication can change your metabolism, but habits change your life.
