Comparing bariatric (weight‑loss) surgery with GLP‑1 and SGLT‑2 diabetes medicines for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery, GLP-1, and SGLT-2 Medications for Patients with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

NIH-funded research Kaiser Foundation Research Institute · NIH-11290742

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionKaiser Foundation Research Institute NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Oakland, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11290742 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: 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

Oakland, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.