Strategies to Manage Obesity: Endoscopic Bariatric and Metabolic Therapies

Abstract

Over the past two decades, numerous endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies (EBMTs) have been developed with the goal of providing additional effective and safe tools for the treatment of obesity. These treatments are an ultra-minimally invasive option for patients with class I, class II, and class III obesity. Many of these EBMTs can be utilized as primary therapies for treatment-naïve patients or as a treatment for weight regain after bariatric surgery. While the role of EBMTs is not to compete with bariatric surgery, which provides the most effective treatment of obesity, they provide greater weight loss than lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy; additionally, when combined with pharmacotherapy, they may help achieve surgical weight loss without the risk of invasive surgery. This review summarizes the most currently available EBMTs, including intragastric balloons (IGBs), endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), and endoscopic surgical revision procedures for treating obesity.