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Endoscopic and surgical therapy for obesity

Publication at Second Faculty of Medicine |
2023

Abstract

Obesity is a serious disease whose incidence continues to rise worldwide. Obesity-associated diseases lead to reduced quality of life and increased mortality (high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, etc.).

The treatment of obesity is a multidisciplinary and complex process that requires consistent patient cooperation. Lifestyle change is the cornerstone of successful obesity treatment.

Pharmacological therapy has experienced a renaissance in recent years and its role, both in monotherapy and in combination with other methods, will gradually become more important. Endoscopic therapy is a rapidly evolving subfield of digestive endoscopy that offers a variety of new methods to reduce, for example, gastric volume or small bowel bypass.

The methods are both effective and have a low risk of complications. Surgical therapy, on the other hand, is highly effective, but is burdened with a higher incidence of complications.

Bariatric surgery is primarily for patients with advanced obesity with comorbidities. The aim of this publication is to give a comprehensive review of the current endoscopic and surgical methods in the treatment of obesity.