Bariatric Surgery After GLP-1s: What We Learned at ASMBS 2026

Podcast Summary

What happens to bariatric surgery when GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound change the entire weight loss landscape?In this episode, Dr. Matthew Weiner and registered dietitian Zoe unpack what they saw at the 2026 ASMBS annual conference - a meeting that felt very different from prior years. Surgical volumes are down, many bariatric surgeons are wrestling with what GLP-1s mean for their practices, and patients are left trying to figure out whether medication, nutrition, surgery, or some combination makes the most sense.Dr. Weiner explains why bariatric surgery still matters, but no longer belongs in the same place in the treatment sequence. For many patients, a GLP-1 trial should come first. For others, especially non-responders, patients with severe diabetes, or people losing mobility, surgery may be the safest and most effective next step.They also discuss why low-dose GLP-1s may be more sustainable than high-dose treatment, how to recognize a medication non-response, and why the best obesity care in 2026 combines nutrition, medication, surgery, and long-term support instead of forcing patients into one silo.

Weight loss topics covered in this episode

This conversation is part of the Pound of Cure approach to evidence-based weight loss education, including bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medications, nutrition counseling, metabolic health, and long-term patient support.

For more context, explore our guides to GLP-1 medications, bariatric surgery in Tucson, and the Metabolic Reset Diet.