Trends in Use of Obesity Medications and Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Among All of Us Participants From 2003 to 2023

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Authors: Olajide A. Adekunle, Phuc Le, Christopher Boyer, Hamlet Gasoyan, Dev Yash Gupta, Ha T. Tran, Yihua Yue, Michael B. Rothberg
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Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to evaluate the trends in antiobesity medication (AOM) and metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) use relative to the 2013 American Medical Association (AMA) declaration of obesity as a chronic disease and semaglutide approval in 2021 in the United States. Methods We employed a repeated cross‐sectional design to analyze national electronic health records (EHR) of US adults (≥ 18 years) with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m 2 ) with ≥ 1 comorbidity for AOM and those with BMI ≥ 35 kg/m 2 for MBS, using the All of Us dataset. We used interrupted time‐series models to evaluate trends from January 1, 2003, to October 1, 2023. Results AOM rates increased by 0.31%/year (95% CI, 0.25%, 0.37%) after 2013 and further increased by 1.42%/year (95% CI, 1.16%, 1.68%) after 2021. MBS use declined by 0.10%/year (95% CI, −0.15%, −0.04%) before 2013. Semaglutide approval was not associated with MBS use decline after 2021. After 2013, patients with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 experienced a larger increase in AOM use (0.50% [95% CI, 0.40%, 0.61%]) vs. < 40 kg/m 2 (0.25%/year [95% CI, 0.20%, 0.30%]) and stable MBS use. Conclusions The declaration increased AOM use and, to a lesser extent, MBS use. Semaglutide approval increased AOM use but had no impact on MBS use.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Bariatric Surgery and Outcomes Pharmacology and Obesity Treatment Obesity and Health Practices

Publication details

Journal / source
Obesity
Volume
34
Issue
4
Pages
952–960
Publication date
25 February 2026
Language
EN