Weight Loss Surgery, Medication and Program Costs

When to Consider Weight Loss Treatments

If you're hoping to drop a few pounds, you aren't alone. Currently, an estimated 40% of adults in the United States are living with obesity, a chronic health condition that can increase the likelihood of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and even certain cancers.¹ In addition, carrying excess weight can lead to breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma, joint pain, gout, fertility difficulties and mental health concerns.²

However, trying to lose weight with diet and exercise alone isn't easy or always effective. If you’re concerned about your weight and haven’t had success with traditional methods, you may be a good candidate to explore other weight loss treatment options such as:

• Weight loss procedures. From non-invasive treatments like gastric balloons to surgical solutions like gastric sleeves, a variety of weight loss procedures can provide temporary or permanent weight loss assistance.
• Weight loss medication. For those looking for an alternative to surgically addressing unwanted pounds, weight loss injections like Ozempic® or Mounjaro® can offer a non-invasive, surgery-free option to help reduce appetite, regulate cravings and control blood sugar, helping individuals to eat less and lose weight.
• Weight loss programs. Programs like Atkins,® Noom® and WW® are designed to help provide structure and guidance for diet and/or exercise. Diet-focused weight loss programs often help with calorie reduction and portion control, whereas exercise weight loss programs provide fitness goals and workout instruction.

Weight Loss Procedure Costs

The national average cost* for bariatric surgery in the U.S. is $16,436 but will vary depending on the specific procedure being performed.³

With options like gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, loop duodenal switch and others, weight loss procedures offer a variety of temporary and permanent surgical treatment options. These procedures work to restrict the size of the stomach and reroute the digestive tract, reducing the amount of food that can be consumed and absorbed by the body.

Cost of weight loss procedures

Below is a breakdown of the national average cost* for specific weight loss procedures. The exact cost will vary based on a number of factors, including geographic location, the provider's experience and insurance coverage.³

Procedure type	Average cost
Adjustable gastric banding	$15,582
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)	$26,071
Endoscopic gastric plication	$19,537
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty accordion (ESG)	$19,575
Gastric balloon (air- or gas-filled)	$8,081
Gastric balloon (swallowable)	$8,005
Gastric bypass	$19,511
Gastric sleeve	$19,459
Intragastric balloon (fluid-filled)	$7,388
Lap-band	$14,506
Loop duodenal switch	$22,902
Mini gastric bypass	$16,365
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass	$19,193
Single anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S)	$18,277
Vertical banded gastroplasty	$12,086

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Weight Loss Injection/Pill Costs

Available as an injection or a pill, weight loss medications like Wegovy,® Ozempic and Contrave® offer a non-surgical option for helping to regulate hunger, cravings and blood sugar. The average cost* for weight loss medication is $933 per month.³

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* for common weight loss pills and injections. The exact cost will vary based on treatment dosage and duration, pharmacy pricing and any manufacturer discounts or patient assistance programs.³

Weight loss medication costs by brand name

Medication brand	Average cost
Adipex-P® (phentermine)	$86/month
Alli® (orlistat)	$55/bottle
Contrave (naltrexone/bupropion)	$673/month
Imcivree® (setmelanotide)	$3,670/10mg
Mounjaro (tirzepatide)	$1,009/month
Ozempic (semaglutide)	$1,002/month
Plenity® (hydrogel)	$96/month
Qsymia® (phentermine/topiramate)	$251/month
Saxenda® (liraglutide)	$1,827/month
Wegovy (semaglutide)	$1,403/month
Xenical® (orlistat)	$126/bottle
Zepbound® (tirzepatide)	$1,001/month

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Weight Loss Program Costs

The cost of specific weight loss programs such as Curves,® Jenny Craig® and Nutrisystem® does not usually change from state to state. However, the overall costs of different weight loss programs can vary greatly based on the program type, if it requires an enrollment or membership fee and the membership length. Some programs may offer discounted monthly rate if you commit to a three-month, six-month or year-long membership up front.

Costs of popular weight loss programs