JAMA Medical News January 2025 Medical News Summary
Jan 31, 2025
Rita Rubin, the lead senior staff writer at JAMA, dives into the transformative impact of weight-loss drugs like GLP-1 on bariatric surgery. She discusses the decline in surgical bookings as these medications gain traction. The conversation also covers safety concerns surrounding compounded GLP-1 drugs and the shifting perspectives on cancer classifications. Rubin raises thought-provoking questions about renaming certain cancers and how these changes can influence patient treatment choices, ultimately advocating for better patient awareness.
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GLP-1 Drugs and Bariatric Surgery
- Bariatric surgery faces a potential decline similar to coronary artery bypass surgeries after cardiac stents.
- GLP-1 drugs offer a less invasive weight-loss treatment, impacting surgical practices.
Patient Access to GLP-1s
- Bariatric surgeons observed decreased surgeries and consultations due to patient access to GLP-1 drugs.
- One surgeon even witnessed last-minute surgery cancellations because patients could access GLP-1s.
Low Bariatric Surgery Uptake
- Only 1% of eligible adults undergo bariatric surgery, highlighting broader access issues.
- The decrease in surgeries may be less concerning than the consistently low uptake.