Mixed
Endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBMTs), including intragastric balloons and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, provide significant weight loss and metabolic improvements as minimally invasive alternatives to surgery, though they are associated with specific adverse events and potential weight regain.
Endoscopic bariatric therapies are a viable, minimally invasive option for weight loss, particularly for those who cannot or will not undergo surgery. Procedures like intragastric balloons and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty can achieve significant weight loss (25-60% excess weight loss) when combined with lifestyle changes. However, they are not risk-free, with potential side effects ranging from nausea to rare serious complications. Patients should discuss their BMI, health status, and preference for invasiveness with a specialist to determine if an EBMT is appropriate, keeping in mind that some devices are temporary and may require combination with medication or surgery for long-term success.
Current methods, such as intragastric balloons, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, and endoscopic-assisted gastrojejunostomy, have promoted weight loss, improving the metabolic health of obese individuals... While EBMTs may not match surgical efficacy, they have shown the potential to replicate many of the metabolic benefits of surgery in a less invasive, reversible, and more cost-effective manner.
Why this rating
Based on a review of multiple RCTs, meta-analyses, and large observational studies.
Source
Endoscopic bariatrics: Current status and emerging technologies
M. Moutzoukis et al. · World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy · 2025
DOI 10.4253/wjge.v17.i10.109031
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
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