Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41326176›Full record

SynthesisObesity (Silver Spring, Md.)2026

Comparative Efficacy of Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery Versus GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Lucas Sabatella, Patricia M Ortega, Víctor Valentí Azcárate, Fernando Rotellar Sastre, Adriana Uriz Pagola, Ahmed Ahmed, Sanjay Purkayastha, Carlota Tuero Ojanguren, Nuria Blanco Asensio, Manuel F Landecho

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisComparative StudyReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lucas SabatellaObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1981-4194
Patricia M OrtegaDepartment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial Weight Centre, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Víctor Valentí AzcárateObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Fernando Rotellar SastreObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Adriana Uriz PagolaObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Ahmed AhmedDepartment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial Weight Centre, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Sanjay PurkayasthaDepartment of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial Weight Centre, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK.
Carlota Tuero OjangurenObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Nuria Blanco AsensioObesity Unit, Department of General Surgery, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1495-2321
Manuel F LandechoObesity Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3234-8805

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThis study compared the efficacy of metabolic/bariatric surgery (MBS) and GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including dual GLP-1/GIP analogues, for weight and metabolic outcomes in adults with obesity.

methodsA network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials compared MBS or GLP-1 RAs versus lifestyle intervention in adults with overweight or obesity. Primary outcomes were percent total weight loss (TWL) and BMI; secondary outcomes included body weight, waist circumference, HbA1c, and systolic blood pressure. Random-effects models used lifestyle intervention as the common comparator; all MBS versus GLP-1 RA comparisons were indirect.

resultsThirty randomized controlled trials (n = 20,015) were included. At < 104 weeks, MBS achieved greater reductions than GLP-1 RAs in %TWL (ETD -10.3%; p = 0.001), BMI (-4.5 kg/m

conclusionsBoth MBS and GLP-1 RAs provide substantial metabolic benefits. MBS remains superior, but tirzepatide is a promising nonsurgical option supporting personalized obesity care.

Indexed as

Bariatric SurgeryGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsObesityAdultBody Mass IndexFemaleGlycated HemoglobinHumansMaleMiddle AgedNetwork Meta-Analysis as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeWaist CircumferenceWeight LossGlucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor AgonistsGlycated Hemoglobinbariatric surgeryGLP‐1 receptor agonistsnetwork meta‐analysisobesity treatment

Identifiers

PMID41326176
PMCPMC13032060

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.