Have you ever tried to lose weight on your own and made no progress? You are among the masses because most overweight and obese individuals struggle with weight loss. They also experience something that can be even more frustrating: trying to find a solution that will help them.
If you are considering surgery or other methods of weight loss, you have most likely encountered some difficulties. You may have been told that you do not qualify for bariatric surgery and are now wondering what to do. You may be an ideal candidate for a bariatric endoscopic procedure.
Unqualified For Bariatric Surgery?
For an individual to qualify for bariatric surgery, they must have a BMI of 35 and have other health problems as a result of their weight, or a BMI of 40 or higher. The dilemma for many individuals is that at a BMI of 30, they are already obese. It seems the system is designed so they have to get worse before they get any help to get better. How does that even make sense?
Medical professionals have been using endoscopy to treat obese patients for over two decades, but with the recent FDA approval of one of these treatments, the field of endoscopic bariatric procedures has begun to grow exponentially.
This is good news for those patients who need medical intervention to lose weight before their health takes a turn for the worse. The ideal candidate for a bariatric endoscopic procedure can have a BMI range as low as 27 to 30.
The BMI Dilemma
A degree of measurement known as a BMI scale is used in the medical field to quickly place individuals into a classification of their potential health. This numeric body mass index scale (BMI) includes categories from underweight to super obese, and individuals are given a BMI number relative to their height and weight. While this is not an accurate picture of their overall health, it is well known that the higher a person’s BMI, the more likely they are to be unhealthy.
Medical professionals routinely use body mass index numbers to determine if a patient is eligible for surgery or a procedure, and this number can also affect them in other areas. For instance, an individual with a high BMI may find it challenging to obtain life insurance.
For an individual to be considered overweight, their BMI would be between 25 and 29.9. At 30, they would be considered obese (class 1). A BMI of 35 would be class 2 obese, and above 40 is class 3 obese. Anything above 45 is considered “super obese”.
You Might Be An Excellent Candidate For Bariatric Endoscopy
Individuals who have chosen not to have surgery or are not physically able to undergo surgery are also excellent candidates for bariatric endoscopic procedures. These procedures are often used for patients who need to lose an initial amount of weight to be deemed eligible for future surgery.
A bariatric endoscopic procedure is done without using any incisions, unlike laparoscopic bariatric surgery, which requires 4 or 5 abdominal incisions. They are typically done as outpatient procedures, carry fewer risks for complications, and offer the patient a much easier and quicker recovery. Two such procedures are an intragastric weight loss balloon and an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.
During these procedures, a special medical scope that is flexible and hollow is lowered through the patient’s mouth and into their stomach. The doctor can view the treatment area as they perform the endoscopic bariatric stomach procedure with the help of a miniature camera that is located on the end of the scope. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and the Orbera balloon both utilize this technique during these procedures.
Endoscopic bariatric procedures can be used as a first-line treatment to promote weight loss or as a secondary treatment to adjust or repair a previous surgical procedure.
Unsuitable Candidates For Endoscopic Bariatric Procedures
If you are pregnant or nursing and have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, or a large hernia, an endoscopic bariatric procedure would not be a good solution for you.
The Benefits Of Endoscopic Bariatric Procedures
Losing weight using the endoscopic bariatric procedure ESG has been proven to be safe and effective, resulting in long-term weight loss for the majority of patients. In addition, compared to laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve surgery), the incidence of GERD after the procedure was significantly less.
The endoscopic bariatric stomach procedure ESG has a more favorable safety profile than that of gastric sleeve surgery. It also offers a procedure time that is significantly less than bariatric surgery and requires no hospital stay compared to surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery was shown to have higher instances of adverse side effects and readmittance to the hospital.
Where To Find Help For Weight Loss In NYC
If you are significantly overweight or suffering from obesity, contact Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Solutions today. We would love to share the advantages of endoscopic bariatric procedures for weight loss and talk with you about how one could help you become healthier.
Used in conjunction with our OnTrack lifestyle coaching program, a bariatric endoscopic procedure can help you achieve sustainable weight loss with minimal downtime. You can get back to living your life while feeling healthier and happier. Make your life-changing appointment today!
