Comparing bariatric (weight‑loss) surgery with GLP‑1 and SGLT‑2 diabetes medicines for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes
Official title: Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery, GLP-1, and SGLT-2 Medications for Patients with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
Funded at Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11290742 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project compares long-term benefits and safety of weight‑loss surgery versus GLP‑1 and SGLT‑2 diabetes medicines for adults who have obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 6, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $649,786 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK135515-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290742 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, especially those considering bariatric surgery or GLP‑1 or SGLT‑2 therapies, are the population most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without obesity or without type 2 diabetes, children and adolescents, and individuals whose care is not captured in participating health records or claims are unlikely to be included or directly helped by this study.
What this research studies
Researchers will use linked insurance claims and electronic health record data from a large, diverse US cohort of over 500,000 people to compare outcomes after metabolic/bariatric surgery or treatment with GLP‑1 or SGLT‑2 medications. The study will track long‑term effects on weight, blood sugar control, kidney and cardiovascular complications, and other safety issues. It will analyze results overall and within groups often underrepresented in trials, including racial and ethnic minorities and rural residents. The goal is to show which options lead to the best long‑term health and safety for different kinds of patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help patients and clinicians choose between surgery and medications to better reduce long‑term diabetes complications and harms.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown GLP‑1s, SGLT‑2s, and bariatric surgery can each improve weight and diabetes outcomes, but long‑term, head‑to‑head comparisons across these options are largely lacking.
Where this research is happening
-
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Oakland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arterburn, David Eric — Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Arterburn, David Eric
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.