Surgery May Not Be the Most Cost-Effective Option

Weight loss surgery does not lower health costs over the long run….

Patients have a misconception that weight loss surgery will result in fewer medications and less care after the procedure.

Over 200,000 people undergo weight loss surgery each year according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The average procedure runs about $29,500.

The study compared health insurance claims for 300,000 people who underwent weight loss surgery between 2002-2008 and an equal number of obese people who had a similar set of health problems but did not undergo weight loss surgery.

The findings of the study showed that the patients who underwent weight loss surgery had a higher up-front cost of care. The study went on to compare the health care costs for the two groups for six years. Although researchers saw a decline in medication costs in patients who underwent surgery, those patients received more inpatient care during the years following the procedure. Overall, health care costs were the same or even slightly higher in the bariatric surgery group.

"It is clear that surgery can help people lose weight and sometimes even cure diabetes, but it might not be worthwhile, or cost-effective, for everyone who is obese." 

"Impact of Bariatric Surgery on Health Care Costs of Obese Persons: A 6-Year Follow-up of Surgical and Comparison Cohorts Using Health Plan Data". JAMA Surg. Published online February 20, 2013. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2013.1504.