Effects of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide on Recurrent Weight Gain After Bariatric Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Osorio Manyari. Angel Alois AA; Armas Alvarez. Azucena Lirio AL; Osorio Manyari. Joel Davis JD; Onieva Gonzalez. Francisco F; Pouwels. Sjaak S
Key Findings
- 15‑40% of patients experience recurrent weight gain after metabolic bariatric surgery.
- Semaglutide produced an average total weight loss of –10.97% (95% CI –13.41 to –8.53).
- Tirzepatide produced an average total weight loss of –13.63% (95% CI –22.59 to –4.67).
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers or self‑experimenters dealing with weight regain after surgery, semaglutide (or tirzepatide) appears to be an effective off‑label option. Use dosing similar to obesity protocols (e.g., weekly subcutaneous injections starting low and titrating up) and monitor weight, glucose, and side effects closely. This evidence supports adding GLP‑1/dual‑agonist therapy to a post‑surgery weight‑maintenance regimen.
Summary
A review of eight studies found that people who regain weight after bariatric surgery lose about 11% of their body weight when they take semaglutide (and about 14% with tirzepatide). This shows these drugs can be a practical tool for tackling post‑surgery weight rebound.
Abstract
Fifteen to forty% of patients experience recurrent weight gain (RWG) after metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS). Glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are effective treatments for obesity in nonsurgical patients. To assess the effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide after MBS, we conducted a meta-analysis of data from inception to August 2025. Eight retrospective studies and 964 patients were included. The percentage total weight loss (%TWL) was - 10.97% [95% CI, - 13.41 to - 8.53; p < 0.05] for semaglutide and - 13.63% [95% CI, - 22.59 to - 4.67; p < 0.05] for tirzepatide. The evidence suggests that semaglutide and tirzepatide result in weight reduction in patients with RWG after MBS.
Study Information
pubmed
2025
2025-11-28T00:00:00.000Z
10.1007/s11695-025-08414-2
31