News Desk, News Nation 360 : Dr Sarfaraz Baig, Senior Consultant - GI Surgeon, Department: Bariatric and Hernia/ AWR Surgery suggests that cooperation between the public and private sectors is essential in combating the "Obesity" pandemic. Although prevention is essential, treating class 2 or 3 obesity can be difficult using conventional methods (with a 1 in 100 success rate), and laparoscopic bariatric surgery isn't always an option because of surgical concerns. Endoscopic Bariatric Surgery or Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is a non-surgical procedure that utilises sophisticated endoscopy tools and shows great promise as a treatment option. In the fight against obesity, it provides a feasible alternative for people who are averse to surgery or who only need to lose a small amount of weight because it reduces the stomach and alters eating capacity and gut signals. Years of research, despite early trials and scepticism, are responsible for the advancements in weight loss interventions. Many surgeries performed in the last few years, including pivotal trials such as the Merit trial, have helped to establish an excellent safety profile for the operation. While physical training and dietary and lifestyle changes are essential parts of any treatment plan, their limited efficacy when used alone makes other interventions necessary. Given the availability of multiple medications, the inclusion of anti-obesity drugs is taken into consideration for individuals classified as Class 1 obese. However, alternative interventions are required due to the possible side effects, expenses, and problems with noncompliance associated with drugs. For patients with class 2 obesity, endoscopic bariatric surgery is the recommended non-surgical method due to its quick recovery time and low level of discomfort. Laparoscopic bariatric surgery is still the preferred method for achieving substantial weight loss for people with Class 3 obesity. A slightly larger endoscope with two channels is inserted into the stomach during endoscopic bariatric surgery. With the use of sophisticated tools, internal stomach stitching is performed with a needle holder with a stitch and forceps, providing a minimally invasive procedure similar to open or laparoscopic surgeries. Since the procedure is done through the mouth, patients can return home the same day without any scars on their abdomen. In the first three to four days, some people may have nausea and abdominal cramps, but these symptoms eventually go away and the recovery is quick and painless. Significant weight loss with safety on par with or even better than laparoscopic bariatric surgery is suggested by several clinical trials. Every choice about the course of treatment will be made after consulting with the patient and receiving mutual counselling. For example, a Class 1 patient whose diabetes medications may not work might prefer Laparoscopic Bariatric to Endoscopic Bariatric. Conversely, those who fall into Class 3 or Class 4 obesity may choose Endoscopic Bariatric if they have a fear of surgery. Having the infrastructure and logistics in place, CMRI is one of the first centres in India to use endoscopic bariatric surgery. This method is thought to be very advantageous for society, particularly for those patients who are reluctant to have surgery. Endoscopic bariatric surgery is a groundbreaking development in weight loss therapies. This procedure, which involves inserting an endoscope through the mouth and into the stomach to stitch it shut while the patient is sedated, decreases the patient's ability to eat. It's a nursery procedure that leaves no scars, heals quickly, and has minimal pain. Class 1-2 obese people (BMI 30–40) are the best candidates, and young people are particularly interested. It helps with conditions like uncontrolled diabetes, sleep apnea, and even PCOD-related infertility. It also shows promise for modest weight loss.
