Weight loss surgery may better preserve kidney function in people with diabetes and obesity than GLP-1 medications, according to a new study.
Researchers found that individuals with obesity, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease were less likely to see their kidney disease progress after bariatric surgery compared to those treated with GLP-1 drugs. Chronic kidney disease, a common complication of type 2 diabetes linked to obesity, is a leading cause of mortality in diabetes patients.
In addition to reducing stomach size, bariatric surgery induces metabolic changes that suppress hunger. For those with obesity and chronic kidney disease, the surgery is strongly associated with a reduced risk of kidney disease progression compared to GLP-1 treatments.
According to the Cleveland Clinic study, patients who underwent bariatric surgery experienced a 60% lower risk of kidney disease progression and a 44% lower risk of kidney failure or death. Chronic kidney disease is a major contributor to further health complications and death in individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
One common type of bariatric procedure, gastric sleeve surgery, removes about 80% of the stomach. This not only limits food intake but also promotes metabolic changes that help reduce hunger, both of which are crucial for addressing obesity—a significant factor in kidney disease and diabetes.
The study followed 425 participants, with 183 undergoing surgery and 242 receiving GLP-1 drugs, over a median follow-up period of 5.8 years.
