Bariatric Surgery and Semaglutide Affect Bones and Heart Differently in Obese Mice | Research

The takeaway

While both bariatric surgery and semaglutide cause weight loss, they have distinct effects on bone density and heart function in obese mice.

Distinct effects
VSG and semaglutide diverged on skeletal health and heart function despite similar weight loss

What the researchers found

VSG and semaglutide produced comparable weight loss but had divergent effects on bone mineral density and cardiac function in obese mice.

Why it matters

Patients choosing between surgery and GLP-1 drugs need to understand that these approaches may affect bone and heart health differently.

The numbers in context

Obese male mice. 6 weeks semaglutide vs VSG vs sham/saline controls. Comparable weight loss. Different effects on energy expenditure, bone mineral density (microCT), and heart function (echocardiography).

How the study worked

Controlled animal study comparing VSG, semaglutide (6 weeks), and sham/saline controls in obese male mice with micro-CT and indirect calorimetry.

Who was studied

Obese male mice

What this study cannot tell us

Mouse study — metabolic and physiological responses may differ in humans. Only male mice were studied. Short treatment duration.

How to read the evidence

Preclinical animal study with controlled design — informative for mechanistic understanding but requires human confirmation.

When this study was published

Published in 2025, addressing a timely question as GLP-1 drugs compete with surgery for obesity treatment.

The bigger picture

As GLP-1 drugs become alternatives to bariatric surgery, understanding their differing systemic effects is critical for patient selection.

Questions still open

Does semaglutide preserve bone density better than bariatric surgery in humans?
Are the cardiac differences clinically significant in human patients?

Common questions

Is semaglutide safer for bones than bariatric surgery?

This mouse study found different bone effects, but human studies are needed to determine which approach better preserves bone health.

Do GLP-1 drugs affect the heart differently than surgery?

In this study, yes — the two approaches showed distinct cardiac effects, though the clinical significance in humans remains unclear.

Read the original research

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy and semaglutide have distinct effects on skeletal health and heart function in obese male mice.

American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 328(4), E555-E566

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Picoli, Caroline de Carvalho; Tsibulnikov, Sergey; Ho, Mavy; DeMambro, Victoria; Feng, Tiange; Eltahir, May; Le, Phuong T; Chlebek, Carolyn; Rosen, Clifford J; Ryzhov, Sergey; Li, Ziru. (2025). Vertical sleeve gastrectomy and semaglutide have distinct effects on skeletal health and heart function in obese male mice.. American journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism, 328(4), E555-E566. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00521.2024