University of Gibraltar-funded research on medication cost comparison for obese patients presented at IFSO World Congress, Chile

2 October 2025

The study, led by Mr Alfonso Antequera, Adjunct Senior Researcher at the University of Gibraltar and Consultant Bariatric Surgeon and Clinical Director for Surgery at the GHA, presented evidence supporting continued investment in bariatric surgery at the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) 2025 World Congress, in Santiago de Chile, on 9-12 September 2025.

Image of University of Gibraltar-funded research on medication cost comparison for obese patients presented at IFSO World Congress, Chile

Photo, from left to right: Melanie McLeod, Christina Macano, Alfonso Antequera at IFSO 2025

This is the first study in Gibraltar that examines how bariatric (weight loss) surgery affects the long-term cost of prescription medications. The key findings, which show relevance for healthcare planning, include:

  • Prescription costs dropped by up to 65% within two years after surgery, leading to big savings for the healthcare system.
  • Chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol were better controlled, which can help prevent future health problems and reduce hospital admissions.
  • Data suggest that greater weight loss achieved through bariatric surgery was strongly associated with greater medication cost savings. Lifestyle changes alone didn’t significantly reduce medication costs over the same period.

Mr Antequera, project lead, commented:

“These results are clear: bariatric surgery is not only clinically effective but also cost saving. Continued investment in surgical and medical weight-management pathways would free up resources for other priorities, improve population health, and reduce long-term costs for the healthcare system.”

The University of Gibraltar is proud of supporting this academic-clinical study, which marks a milestone for Gibraltar, and a significant contribution to metabolic surgery research, placing Gibraltar as an evidence-contributor in obesity care to inform policy and support sustainable healthcare planning.

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