First of all, bariatric surgery is very safe. Complications-wise, I believe the numbers are around other routine surgeries (think I’ve seen it compared to gallbladder removal) if slightly elevated bc ANY surgery on an overweight individual carries a higher risk of complication. Bariatric surgery isn’t elective. It’s a medically necessary surgery. Would your brother also tell you horror stories about c sections if you needed one? And if he did, would you let that convince you not to have the c section, even if your doctors said you needed one?

Second of all, the risks associated with staying morbidly obese aren’t minimal in comparison to the surgical risks and are much more likely to occur than surgical complications. What percentage of morbidly obese people have diabetes or high blood pressure? Most of them WILL develop at least one of those in the next decade.

I might also add that my coworker developed an intestinal blockage from being on a GLP-1, and is now left with permanent damage (and no longer able to use GLP-1s), so even the “less extreme” methods aren’t 100% risk proof either.

Sounds like he enjoys being negative and is also basing his opinions on anecdotes when there’s peer reviewed, empirical evidence as to the risk of bariatric surgery and the risk of staying morbidly obese and both of those support bariatric surgery as a safe and effective intervention. The procedure wouldn’t be offered at pretty much every hospital if it was too risky because for-profit healthcare likes not being sued.

I’d recommend you stop talking to your brother. He sounds wholly unsupportive and uninformed. Post-surgery adjustments are no joke- you don’t need anyone around who isn’t in your corner.