A cost‐effectiveness analysis of behavioural, pharmacological, and surgical obesity treatments in Canada
Authors' conclusion
RYGB and HBI are cost-effective for managing class III obesity. While RYGB provided the greatest health gains, access remains limited. Neither pharmacotherapy was cost-effective at current prices. Lower drug prices could significantly improve pharmacotherapy cost-effectiveness.
Study context
- Population
- Modelled 40-year-olds with class III obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m²) without T2D or CVD at baseline, Canada
- Exposure
- Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), RYGB, semaglutide, tirzepatide and health behaviour intervention (HBI) vs no treatment
- Outcome
- Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) (cost per QALY) for preventing cardiometabolic complications
- Follow-up
- 40-year time horizon
Methodological detailscohort-based Markov model, 40-year time horizon, Canadian public payer perspective, CAD $50 000/QALY willingness-to-pay threshold, Treatment effects, probabilities, utilities and costs from published literature
- Cohort-based Markov model
- 40-year time horizon
- Canadian public payer perspective
- CAD $50 000/QALY willingness-to-pay threshold
- Treatment effects, probabilities, utilities and costs from published literature
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Cost-effectiveness (ICER)
ICER
$14 279 /QALY
HBI vs No treatment · cost-effective
ICER
$44 667 /QALY
RYGB vs Tirzepatide · most cost-effective strategy
RYGB
20.20
Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sensitivity analyses
- Confirmed findings; lower drug prices could improve pharmacotherapy cost-effectiveness
Original publication
A cost‐effectiveness analysis of behavioural, pharmacological, and surgical obesity treatments in Canada. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 21 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →