It is no secret that obesity has reached epic proportions in the United States. Currently, 1 out of 3 adults in the U.S. has a BMI that falls in the range of obesity. The number of states who have at least a 35% rate of obesity among adults has risen to 16 from the previous number of 12 recorded by the CDC in 2019. There are many factors that played a part in how this came to be and the addition of the pandemic did not help matters. Today we are going to talk about different bariatric weight loss procedures that can treat obesity and particularly how to get gastric bypass results without undergoing surgery.
Who Is Considered Obese?
Obesity is calculated using a universal system of measurement called a BMI scale. The simplified BMI scale looks like this:
- Less than 18.5 – underweight;
- 18.5-24.9 – ideal Weight;
- 25-29.9 – overweight;
- Over 30 – obese.
The CDC statistics show that only 28% of adult Americans fall into the first two categories of either being underweight or at their ideal weight which leaves the remainder of the adult American population considered overweight or obese.
Overweight or Obese?
To give these statistics some perspective, let’s look at a person who is 5’7”, that weighs 180 pounds. This person is considered overweight by BMI calculations. If they gain only 12 pounds, they are now considered obese.
More complex BMI charts have categories of obesity that range from class 1 obesity to class 4 obesity.
Medical Weight Loss Procedures Can Help Obese Patients
Many people struggle with their weight. Some notice they have gained 10 pounds over the holidays or on vacation and so they crack down, vow to get more exercise, eat healthier, and drink more water which usually works but, what if it doesn’t?
What if the things that used to work to help maintain a healthy weight stop working? Thinking about this scenario you can probably see where it would be easy for that previously “overweight” person to gain that 12 pounds and now be in a BMI category that is classified as “obese”. Things can spiral out of control from here and they need some help to get back on track.
Surgical Weight Loss Options
Bariatric surgery has proven an effective tool for obese individuals to lose weight. Gastric sleeve (VSG), gastric bypass, and duodenal switch are all popular surgical procedures used for weight loss. These surgical procedures all reduce the stomach’s size permanently and can not be reversed.
Gastric bypass surgery is considered the “gold standard” for weight loss surgery by the National Institute of Health and the ASMBS (American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery) and has been for decades.
Gastric bypass surgery works using both restrictive and malabsorptive techniques. Meaning, it restricts the amount that an individual can eat because the stomach is made smaller but it also involves altering the digestive system so that not all the calories ingested are absorbed by the body. Gastric bypass patients typically lose about 50-60% of their excess body weight in a year.
What if you do not want to have surgery or do not qualify for bariatric surgery? Is there a way to get gastric bypass weight loss results without surgery?
What Is the Best Non-Surgical Weight Loss Option?
For individuals who have slipped into that obese category, losing weight becomes harder to do with just diet and exercise alone. The more weight that accumulates, the harder losing it becomes.
Bariatric surgery is one option available to help with weight loss but individuals who are between 30-40 on the BMI chart may not qualify as candidates and severely obese individuals may not be considered “healthy enough” to undergo the surgery involved.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a non-surgical weight loss option that can deliver similar weight loss results as bariatric surgery. One study highlighted the benefits of using endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty to treat class IV obesity, especially if surgery was not a viable option for the patient.
How to Lose Weight Fast without Surgery
According to the MERIT study published, the average weight loss for Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is about 49% of total excess weight after 1 year. The study went on to report that there were very few adverse events related to the ESG procedure and all were resolved without critical care or surgical intervention.
ESG is a wonderful tool that can help individuals who follow the plan, modify their eating habits, get regular exercise, and embrace and utilize all the support that is available to them to be successful in their weight loss journey. You can listen to this patient’s testimonial as she describes her weight loss results with ESG.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) or Accordion Procedure: Everything You Need to Know
Dr. Chris explains what Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) procedure is, how it is done, and what its benefits are.
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Is the Best Non-Surgical Way to Lose Weight!
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a procedure that is done to make a patient’s stomach smaller so they eat less and lose weight. This non-surgical procedure is done through an endoscope that is lowered down the patient’s throat so there are no incisions needed.
During the procedure, the patient’s stomach is made smaller and shaped into a small pouch that resembles the shape of a banana and held in that shape by several sutures. The procedure only takes about 45 minutes to perform and requires no overnight stay in the hospital.
During the ESG procedure, the stomach size is reduced by about 70% so the new stomach, a small sleeve-like pouch, will only hold a small amount of food and it will digest more slowly than before surgery. This will help the patient with portion control as well as keep them feeling “full” longer. The sutures used to secure the new stomach shape are strong enough to hold indefinitely however, the procedure is fully reversible.
Patient Testimonial - Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) - IBI Healthcare Institute
Kimberly talks about her Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) and shares her keys to success on the trip to lose weight. It is not just a procedure, it is about adopting better eating and lifestyle habits. Help us to celebrate these 71 pounds less in just 6 months!!! Now on her 7 month anniversary, she lost 93 pounds.
Patient recovery after endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is much shorter than that of bariatric surgery and typically they return to reasonable routines within a week. After about 3-4 weeks, their surgeon will clear them to resume high-impact exercise and strenuous activities.
After ESG surgery, patients will follow a diet that will help their stomachs adjust to the smaller size. This coupled with an exercise plan will typically result in a weight loss of about 13% of their total body weight in the first 3 months.
Many obese patients have serious chronic health issues related to their weight such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. Once the patient begins to lose weight, these conditions normally fall into remission or become significantly improved.
How Much Weight Can I Lose Without Surgery with ESG?
A study published by The National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that bariatric surgery patients who underwent gastric sleeve had an average excess weight loss of 43% after 1 year and 63% at the two-year mark. Gastric bypass patients had an average excess weight loss of 51% after 1 year and 71% by year 2.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) offers patients an average weight loss of about 49% of excess total weight but many patients surpass that number and realize much more significant weight loss
ESG, a non-surgical procedure offers patients an alternative to invasive surgery while delivering significant weight loss results.
Average excess weight loss percentage after one year:
- Gastric sleeve – 43%;
- Gastric bypass – 51%;
- ESG – 49%.
At IBI Healthcare Institute, we understand that losing weight and keeping it off is not easy and will not happen overnight. We are here to help you achieve your weight loss goals and become healthier regardless of which weight loss procedure is utilized to help you get there. Contact us today to set up a consultation to learn more about weight loss options and which one will be right for you.
