VBLOC, a Potential Endoscopic Bariatric Therapy, to Get FDA Review
Bariatric or weight loss surgery is an effective weight loss
method. Non-surgical weight loss approaches, such as
using weight loss drugs, and making lifestyle
changes, including diet and exercise, are often less
effective than weight loss surgery. But severe
complications sometime accompany the surgery.
Fortunately, some experts are looking into treatment
options that mimic bariatric surgery while
eliminating many of the complications associated
with the surgery. Some of these options are called
endoscopic bariatric therapies or EBTs. One
possible, future EBT that is scheduled for FDA review in its current non-EBT form is VBLOC
therapy.
EBTs can be categorized three ways: They may be restrictive, malabsorptive, or neuro-hormonal. The gastric balloon is an example of a restrictive EBT. This device is placed in the stomach, endoscopically. Once the device is filled with a liquid or air, a person’s stomach feels full with less food. ReShape Medical, Inc, headquartered in San Clemente, California, makes a version of the gastric balloon.
The
Endobarrier is a malabsorptive EBT. The
device is made by Lexington, MA based GI Dynamics.
The Endobarrier is a liner for a section of the
small intestine. And like the gastric balloon, the
Endobarrier is placed in the intestine
endoscopically. The Endobarrier is engineered to
act as a barrier between the food one eats and the
intestinal walls. With the Endobarrier in place,
food digestion is delayed in a fashion similar to
gastric bypass surgery.
Finally, an example of a potential neuro-hormonal EBT is VBLOC. VBLOC
was developed by EnteroMedics Inc., based in Minnesota. Although the
VBLOC system is placed in the digestive system, laparoscopically, this
type of device may one day be inserted endoscopically. The system blocks
signals sent from the digestive system to the brain, via the vagus
nerve. The signals can contain messages associated with hunger,
satisfaction and fullness.
If EBTs are eventually proven to be effective weight loss fighting tools, medical weight loss options will be enhanced. Patients, obesity medicine specialists, and bariatric surgeons will then benefit. So medical and surgical weight loss service providers should monitor EBT research. This will allow these providers to know when and how to counsel their patients on EBT application.
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