Gut Check on Gastroenterology Archive

As I contemplate the last few weeks of holiday parties and notice that the gym seems more crowded and the gym rats more focused, I realize I am not the only one who fears the added weight gain from too much food and libation! The world remains in search of a cure for obesity, and the holiday season seems to refocus our attention on this issue.

What is also interesting to me is the incredible success and growing popularity of surgical weight-loss procedures as well as how many people are aware of the availability and benefits of these surgeries. However, many doctors are unaware of the enormous effort being put into the development of endoscopic weight-loss procedures. To date, no consensus guidelines have been issued for outcomes of these less-invasive techniques, and I am intrigued by what we should be looking for as these procedures enter clinical trials.

The literature on surgical weight-loss procedures suggests profound medical benefits are achieved even with modest weight reduction (a loss of 15–25 pounds improves glycemic control, lipid profiles, etc.). Yet, these procedures provide the further dividend of 25% weight loss or more. So, I am curious to know what you think an endoscopic weight-loss procedure should deliver when it comes to percent weight loss. Is it 5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, or more? Let me know what you think is the optimal and achievable target for these procedures.