Medical vs. Surgical Obesity Management: A Narrative Review of Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Outcomes.

Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, and multifactorial disease with rising prevalence and substantial health and economic burdens. Despite significant advances in both medical and surgical treatments, clinicians and patients still face a lack of clear, comparative guidance for tailoring therapy based on individual risk factors, disease severity, and comorbidities. This review synthesizes current evidence on lifestyle and behavioral interventions, pharmacologic therapies (including glucagon-like peptide-1 [GLP-1] receptor agonists), and surgical approaches. Key clinical considerations in treatment selection include body mass index, eligibility for surgical or non-surgical interventions, patient preferences, tolerance for side effects, and the long-term impact on quality of life. While lifestyle and behavioral modifications alone pose minimal risks, they are considerably less effective than when combined with pharmacologic or surgical/endoscopic treatments. Current pharmacotherapies, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual agonists such as tirzepatide, represent a paradigm shift in non-surgical weight management, though questions remain regarding their long-term efficacy and safety. Bariatric surgery offers the most effective and durable weight loss outcomes, significantly improving obesity-related comorbidities and long-term survival. However, it carries higher upfront risks, potential complications, nutritional deficiencies, and increased costs. Ultimately, integrated treatment models that combine lifestyle, pharmacologic, and/or surgical strategies are likely to offer the most effective and sustainable outcomes in managing obesity. Our review highlights the importance of an individualized, evidence-based, and multimodal strategy to effectively manage obesity and address its complexity. Continued research is essential to refine patient selection and improve integration of treatment options, ultimately supporting more personalized and effective obesity care.