To Have or Not To Have.

A new era in the constantly changing weight loss world has dawned upon us. Nowadays, the craze of prescriptions like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are making people wonder whether to have bariatric surgery or take weight loss drugs instead.

To put it in simple words, bariatric surgery works by decreasing the size of your stomach and reducing hunger hormones, and prescriptions work by suppressing your appetite only, which is typically associated with discomfort. So, while surgery goes to the epicenter of the problem, prescriptions mask the symptoms. Prescriptions slow the movement of food in your gut, making you feel full longer, so you crave less and therefore eat less food. In terms of insurance, they will both have you go through various hurdles before giving you approval.

For the surgery: current insurance qualifications are a BMI of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 or greater, along with obesity related co-morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. For the prescriptions: the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Wegovy for the treatment of obesity and will likely approve new ones soon. But insurance carriers have not begun approving their use for obesity alone; they are approved only as treatment for those with type 2 diabetes. A benefit of a surgical option is that it is a long-term solution compared to the longevity of having to continue taking medications to suppress the appetite. Navigation apps can show you the fastest way to get somewhere you want to go, but it’s always up to you to make that decision.

So, we go back to the initial question – to have or not to have? If you happen to be in that tug of war between those two choices, please know that at Total Wellness and Bariatrics we are here to help you make the best decision for you. Together, we can look at your individual case because at Total Wellness & Bariatrics, we have a wide array of options to best solve your issue. Simply get started and contact our office today to discuss what’s best for you.