title: Bariatric endoscopy: current state of the art, emerging technologies, and challenges.
abstract: Over the last few decades obesity has become a major health issue worldwide. Although dietary and lifestyle changes are the cornerstone of obesity management, it still poses a huge challenge for the majority of patients to permanently change their eating habits. Bariatric endoscopy represents an evolving filed of minimally invasive techniques and procedures for weight loss trying to respond to these challenges by developing new methods with the increasing role of endoscopists in the management of obesity. Areas covered: The aim of this article is to review the role and the advantages of bariatric endoscopy in the management of obesity by providing a comprehensive reference source and evaluating the currently available and emerging endoscopic devices and techniques for weight loss. Expert commentary: Endoscopic methods for weight loss represent a useful armamentarium in the management of obesity by providing improved effectiveness compared with medications, with a lower risk profile than traditional bariatric surgery. Although preliminary results of recently introduced methods are encouraging, many questions remain regarding the safety and efficacy of such interventions. Combining scientific background with advancements in technology is the key strategy for the further development of bariatric endoscopy.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases , University Hospital Rijeka , Croatia , Rijeka.
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klobucar Majanovic
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology , University Hospital Rijeka , Croatia , Rijeka.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brozovic
authors.affiliation: b Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology , University Hospital Rijeka , Croatia , Rijeka.
authors.forename: Davor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stimac
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery; D013537:Sutures; D015431:Weight Loss
keywords: Bariatric endoscopy; intragastric balloons; malabsorptive endoscopic procedures; obesity; restrictive endoscopic procedures; space-occupying devices; weight loss procedures