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16 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 29, 2026 Market Disruption GLP-1 boom reshapes Connecticut's obesity-treatment industry there might be some patients that come through that should go straight to medications, and some that will need both." New York Bariatric Group did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Not a competition Hospitals, physician groups, specialty obesity clinics and drug- makers are all seeking a share of the growing obesity-treatment market, which reached a record $135 billion in 2025, according to market research firm Marketdata, driven largely by demand for GLP-1 medications, which have helped many patients achieve weight-loss levels previously seen mainly with bariatric surgery. Still, both Morton and Dr. Darren Tishler, chief of meta- bolic and bariatric surgery at Hartford HealthCare, caution that the medications are not a universal solution. Morton noted that roughly 10% of patients do not respond to GLP-1 medica- tions, while another 10% experience side effects that prevent long-term use. Access also remains a chal- lenge because insurance coverage varies widely. Tishler said many patients eventu- ally discontinue treatment because of cost, side effects or a reluctance to remain on the medication indefinitely. That helps explain why both surgeons reject the idea that medica- tion and surgery compete. Morton said GLP-1s are simply another tool. Tishler agrees. "If someone comes to me with cancer, let's say, when it comes to breast cancer, I would never say to her, 'Try real hard on your own to make the breast cancer go away,'" Tishler said. "I would never say to someone, 'choose between a surgery, or chemotherapy, or radiation therapy or hormonal therapy.' We're going to do all of those, because the combination works better." Comprehensive programs The shift in weight-loss care has been many years in the making. Tishler said Hartford HealthCare began integrating obesity medicine By David Krechevsky davidk@hartfordbusiness.com D rivers passing Exit 27 south- bound on Interstate 91 in Hart- ford likely can't miss the large purple billboard with white lettering that asks an odd question: "GLP-1s failing you?" The sign adds in smaller blue lettering, "You still have options at NYBG.com," a reference to New York Bariatric Group, an obesity-treatment provider with offices in Fairfield, Farmington and Stamford, as well as in New York and New Jersey. The ad promotes alternatives for patients who do not achieve the desired results from blockbuster weight-loss medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The billboard reflects a major shift underway in the obesity-treatment industry. The rapid rise of GLP-1 drugs has created new competition for bariatric surgery, which for decades has been a leading treatment option for severe obesity. A study released in May by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that use of GLP-1 medications among patients diagnosed as overweight or with obesity or diabetes increased more than 140% nationwide between 2022 and 2024, while bariatric surgery procedures fell 34%. Connecticut's state employee health plan shows a similar trend. According to the state comptroller's office, the number of plan members using GLP-1 medications nearly tripled between 2022 and 2025, rising from 5,551 to 16,614. During the same period, bariatric surgeries declined from 299 to 203. Yet statewide bariatric surgery volumes overall have remained rela- tively stable, according to data from the Office of Health Strategy. Hospital leaders say that's because they don't view medication and surgery as competing approaches. Instead, many patients now move between the two treatments rather than choosing one or the other. Yale New Haven Health and Hartford HealthCare say they have reorganized their weight-management programs, bringing obesity medicine specialists, bariatric surgeons, dietitians, psychol- ogists and other clinicians together under one umbrella. "The key to the future for optimal care for patients is integrated care," said Dr. John Morton, professor of surgery at the Yale School of Medicine and a bariatric surgeon who has performed more than 6,000 procedures over a career spanning two decades. "There are some patients that come through that really should just go straight to surgery," Morton said, "and Dr. Darren Tishler Protection for your practice and your profession. Protection for your practice and your profession. Comprehensive medical professional liability coverage tailored to meet your practice needs. Scan to Request a Quote Explore coverage options and member benefits Continuing Medical Education Credits Risk Management Assessments, & more Legacy Reward & Dividend Programs Dr. John Morton, a professor of surgery at the Yale School of Medicine, says there is a role for both bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications in treating obesity. Contributed Photo