Weight loss injections or surgery? How each treatment differs

NEW ORLEANS (InvestigateTV) - Weight is a daily struggle for millions of Americans and for a lot of them it’s not just the health risks, it’s shame and setbacks.By 2035, it’s estimated that the number of people in the country living with obesity will rise to 19 million and affect nearly 126 million people. In the same study published by JAMA, researchers found that the number of American adults living with obesity has more than double over the past three decades.More Americans are choosing weight loss injections over bariatric surgery, according to a new study. But some patients face a different reality when it comes to treatment options due to their insurance coverage.A study in JAMA Network Surgery shows GLP-1 prescriptions rose 24% between 2018 and 2025. Over the same period, national bariatric surgery use in 2025 was slightly less than half of its 2022 peak.But Dr. Shauna Levy with Tulane Weight Loss Center at Lakeside Hospital said she has not seen the same shift in her practice.