a review on the position of endoscopy techniques in obesity treatment

as the incidence of obesity increases, less invasive weight loss methods rather than bariatric surgery will be needed. this article reviews the advances in endoscopy, results, benefits and side effects of these techniques for treating obesity. the endoscopic options for weight loss could be broadly grouped under the following categories: restriction procedures, malabsorption procedures, and neuromodulation. with the most common options were related to restriction procedures, which include intragastric balloons (bioenterics intragastric balloon and heliosphere bag), endoluminal restriction gastroplasty by intermittent sutures or continuous sutures, and transluminal oral gastroplasty. malabsorption procedures such as duodenojejunal sleeves are effective particularly in obese patients with diabetes mellitus. electrical stimulation of stomach is effective on weight loss because of reduced gastric adaptation and a delay in gastric emptying. it is important to identify which endoscopic technique must be used, depending on the desirable outcomes. currently, the most important issue is to develop an effective and standardized endoscopic procedure.