Endoscopic bariatric therapies for obesity: a review

Med J Aust. 2021 Aug 16;215(4):183-188. doi: 10.5694/mja2.51179. Epub 2021 Aug 1.

Abstract

▪ Obesity is reaching pandemic proportions globally, with overweight or obesity affecting at least two-thirds of Australian adults. ▪ Bariatric surgery is an effective weight loss strategy but is constrained by high resource requirements and low patient acceptance. ▪ Multiple endoscopic bariatric therapies have matured, with well established and favourable safety and efficacy profiles in multiple randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and are best used within a multidisciplinary setting as an adjuvant to lifestyle intervention. ▪ Three types of intragastric balloon are currently in use in Australia offering average total weight loss ranging from 10% to 18%, with others available internationally. ▪ Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty produces average total weight loss of 15-20% with low rates of severe complications, with RCT data anticipated in December 2021. ▪Bariatric and metabolic endoscopy is rapidly evolving, with many novel, promising therapies currently under investigation.

Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Endoscopy; Obesity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Bariatric Surgery / adverse effects*
  • Bariatric Surgery / methods*
  • Bariatric Surgery / trends
  • Endoscopy / adverse effects*
  • Endoscopy / methods*
  • Gastric Balloon / statistics & numerical data
  • Gastroplasty / adverse effects
  • Gastroplasty / methods
  • Humans
  • Obesity / surgery*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss