Obesity surgeryOct 21, 2025

Safety and Effectiveness of One- and Two-step Weight-Loss Surgeries for People with Severe Obesity (BMI 50 or Higher): A Combined Study

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 3, 2026

Abstract

A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 56 studies assessed the outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgeries in patients with obesity and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50 kg/m.

At 1 year, single-anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass (SADI), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) achieved the highest percentage excess weight loss (%EWL).
BPD ranked best for %EWL at 3 years, with intragastric balloon (IGB) showing consistently inferior results.
At 5 years, BPD maintained superiority in %EWL, followed by one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).
OAGB and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) were associated with the lowest postoperative mortality risk, while BPD and IGB combinations had the highest mortality rates.
OAGB and LAGB exhibited the most favorable safety profile regarding morbidity, whereas BPD had the highest complication rates.
BPD was most effective for resolving comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.

Simplified

The surgical management of patients with obesity and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 50 kg/mremains challenging, with no clear consensus on the optimal approach. Single-step and two-step metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS) are both used, but their comparative efficacy and safety have not been fully elucidated. This research aims to compare the outcomes of single-step and two-step MBS in patients with obesity and BMI ≥ 50 kg/m. A systematic review and network meta-analysis including 56 studies was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane protocol searching PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane library up to the 28th of February 2025. Primary outcomes included percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) at 1-, 3-, and 5-years follow-up, while secondary outcomes included postoperative mortality, morbidity, and resolution of obesity-related medical problems. Data were synthesized using a NMA framework, integrating both direct and indirect comparisons. At 1 year, SADI, RYGB, and BPD achieved the highest %EWL, while LAGB and IGB were least effective. At 3 years, BPD ranked best, whereas IGB remained consistently inferior. At 5 years, BPD maintained superiority, followed by OAGB. For postoperative mortality, OAGB and LSG were associated with the lowest risk, whereas BPD and IGB combinations performed worst. Regarding morbidity, OAGB and LAGB had the most favorable safety profile, while BPD showed the highest complication rates. For comorbidity resolution, BPD was the most effective for T2D, AH, and OSAS. Overall, restrictive procedures offered better short-term safety, while malabsorptive techniques provided superior long-term metabolic outcomes. MBS offer effective weight loss and metabolic improvements in individuals with BMI ≥ 50 kg/m. Two-step procedures may provide metabolic advantages in higher BMI populations, while single-step surgeries offer lower surgical risk and acceptable efficacy. Future randomized studies with standardized outcome definitions are necessary to optimize surgical decision-making in this complex patient group. 2 2 2

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Declarations. Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

PubMed

Safety and Effectiveness of One- and Two-step Weight-Loss Surgeries for People with Severe Obesity (BMI 50 or Higher): A Combined Study

Abstract

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Abstract

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