Both bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), are effective interventions for obesity, yet each has its own advantages and limitations. Drawing on the “bridging” concept from cancer therapy, this commentary explores an innovative obesity management strategy that involves the combined application of GLP-1RA and bariatric surgery during the perioperative period, with the aim of optimizing treatment outcomes. The present analysis focuses specifically on the potential value of this approach: preoperatively, GLP-1RAs serve as a “bridging therapy” to promote weight loss and reduce surgical risks in severely obese patients; postoperatively, they might be used to manage weight rebound or insufficient weight loss. This multimodal integrated strategy is designed to overcome the inherent limitations of single therapies and offer patients more comprehensive treatment options. Emphasizing that future research must urgently focus on optimizing treatment parameters (e.g., timing, dosage), evaluating long-term safety and efficacy, and establishing patient selection criteria for combination therapy. Integrating surgical and pharmacological treatments, this comprehensive strategy based on the oncological “bridging” concept represents a highly promising paradigm shift in obesity management.
The risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is significantly increased, which is the primary cause of death. Recent studies have shown that novel hypoglycemic drugs such as sodium-glucose linked transporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists have been proven to have cardiovascular protective effects through cardiovascular outcome trials. This article reviews the improvement effects of these drugs on cardiovascular outcomes and explores their possible mechanisms, such as improving myocardial metabolism and reducing inflammatory reactions, providing a reference for optimizing hypoglycemic regimens.