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Bariatric Surgery Procedures Fall Below 200,000, First Time Since 2020, New Research Finds
SAN ANTONIO – May 5, 2026 – The number of metabolic and bariatric surgery procedures in the United States dropped below 200,000 in 2024 for the first time since 2020, a more than 20% decline from the prior year, according to new research presented today at the annual scientific meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (#ASMBS2026).
Researchers from Loyola University in Chicago based their 2020-2024 estimates after review of the American College of Surgeons Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (ACS-MBSAQIP) database, which includes reported outcomes from all MBSAQIP-accredited bariatric centers.
| Year | Total Cases | Sleeve, n (%) | RYGB, n (%) | Band, n (%) | BPD-DS, n (%) | SADI, n (%) | OAGB, n (%) | Other, n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 168,228 | 108,260 (64.35) | 47,846 (28.44) | 1,002 (0.60) | 2,070 (1.23) | 488 (0.29) | 1,338 (0.80) | 7,224 (4.29) |
| 2021 | 210,811 | 134,637 (63.87) | 61,031 (28.95) | 1,102 (0.52) | 2,760 (1.31) | 841 (0.40) | 943 (0.45) | 9,497 (4.51) |
| 2022 | 230,207 | 145,005 (62.99) | 69,159 (30.04) | 1,081 (0.47) | 3,634 (1.58) | 1,338 (0.58) | 903 (0.39) | 9,087 (3.95) |
| 2023 | 217,387 | 133,550 (61.43) | 67,461 (31.03) | 732 (0.34) | 3,102 (1.43) | 1,963 (0.90) | 457 (0.21) | 10,122 (4.66) |
| 2024 | 177,297 | 103,452 (58.35) | 58,183 (32.82) | 505 (0.28) | 2,255 (1.27) | 2,670 (1.51) | 232 (0.13) | 10,000 (5.64) |
“After years of steady growth, the number of metabolic and bariatric procedures in the U.S. is experiencing a decline amid persistently high obesity rates and a surge in the use of GLP-1 medications,” said lead study author Tyler Cohn, MD, Associate Professor at Loyola University Medical Center. “While we did not study causation, the concern is that many patients are selecting non-surgical therapies for obesity without fully understanding all of their available options. Millions more are living with obesity and are not receiving treatment at all.”
Beyond the overall recent decline, the study found meaningful shifts in the types of operations being performed. Between 2020 and 2024, sleeve gastrectomy, long the dominant procedure, fell from 64% of all surgeries to 58%. Gastric bypass increased from 28.44% to 32.82%, its highest share of procedures in five years. Conversions, or revisions or modifications of prior surgeries, rose from about 9% in 2020 to 11% in 2024.
Other bariatric procedures, including gastric banding, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass (SADI) and one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), each accounted for less than 2% of procedures.
“GLP-1s are starting a conversation in doctors’ offices that really wasn’t happening as much as it should have been,” said Richard M. Peterson, MD, MPH, FASMBS, President, ASMBS and Professor of Surgery at UT Health San Antonio, who was not involved in the study. “The high demand for these drugs and greater attention on the dangers of obesity has created an unprecedented opportunity to educate and engage patients on all proven treatments, not just medications, which is essential to effectively treating this chronic disease.”
According to ASMBS, less than 1% of people eligible for metabolic and bariatric surgery currently get it in any given year. More than 270,000 procedures were performed in the U.S. in 2023, the latest estimates available. ASMBS estimates are based on multiple datasets including the MBSAQIP database used in this study.
Metabolic and bariatric or weight-loss surgery, such as gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy, have been shown to be the most effective and long-lasting treatment for severe obesity. The operations improve or resolve diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure and lead to significant and durable weight loss. It has a safety profile comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S., including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement.
About ASMBS
The ASMBS is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the nation. It is a non-profit organization that works to advance the art and science of bariatric surgery and is committed to educating medical professionals and the lay public about bariatric surgery as an option for the treatment of severe obesity, as well as the associated risks and benefits. It encourages its members to investigate and discover new advances in bariatric surgery, while maintaining a steady exchange of experiences and ideas that may lead to improved surgical outcomes for patients with severe obesity. For more information, visit www.asmbs.org.
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*EXAMINING TRENDS IN THE DECLINE OF BARIATRIC SURGERY – AN MBSAQIP ANALYSIS
Rachel Ferguson Loyola University Chicago; Mason Friesch Loyola University Chicago; Irena Helenowski Loyola University Medical Center; Laura Wool Loyola University Medical Center; Monica Edwards Loyola University Medical Center; Kevin Brown Loyola University Medical Center; Tyler Cohn Loyola University Medical Center — Abstract ID: 4730