New research identifies potential remedies to obesity and its health threats

Researchers unveiled data during this week’s Digestive Disease Week® (DDW®) outlining improved bariatric surgery options and studies that offer new insight into the related toll on the body created by obesity, which causes many individuals to develop cancers of the esophagus and pancreas. DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians and researchers in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery.

Bariatric surgery is a popular option for those who have been unable to achieve weight loss through diet and exercise alone. However, patients need to weigh operative risks and surgical side effects before deciding to proceed with a surgery of this kind.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are an estimated 129.6 million overweight or obese Americans (64 percent) with an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and other disabling medical conditions.

Per-Oral Suturing as a Potential Treatment for Adolescent Obesity – A Pilot Investigation of 12 Patients with 6-Months Follow-up (Abstract #243)

With nearly one in five children overweight or obese, many have wondered if surgical methods could help address this growing epidemic. Adolescent bariatric surgery, however, has been met with great controversy and as a result, more minimally invasive options have been sought.

Investigators of this study looked to test the efficacy of endolumial techniques, specifically per-oral suturing, to determine if this method might offer a safe, effective, minimally invasive way to help adolescents lose weight. This technique has been successful in adult populations, using a scope via the mouth to place three to four sutures to bring together the anterior and posterior walls of the stomach together, thereby reducing the volume of the stomach. This study investigated the efficacy of this procedure on an adolescent population.

Twelve adolescents between the ages of 14 and 17 underwent the Endolumial Vertical Gastroplasty (EVG) procedure. Patients had an average baseline BMI of 38.1 with weights ranging from 80 to 158 kg. The study found that all patients lost weight. Between baseline and six months past procedure, the mean BMI dropped to 27.8.

"For this technique to be successful, patients must also commit to adopt a rigorous post-surgery diet and exercise program that is monitored by a nutritionist," said Roberto Fogel, MD, with the department of gastroenterology, Hospital de Clinicas Caracas in Venezula. "Endolumial suturing procedures seem to be a safe potential alternative to more invasive surgeries or for use when diet and exercise regimes have failed."

The study was conducted with patients in Venezuela. Patients were carefully selected based on their willingness to comply with rigorous post-surgical lifestyle changes.

(Abstract #343 )