*patients availed ESG at Gleneagles Global Hospital, Hyderabad in 2022, doctors say effective, less-invasive obesity treatments exist

Hyderabad: Gleneagles Global Hospital is providing Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty or ESG, a newer type of minimally invasive weight loss procedure that will help those who are significantly overweight-a body mass index of 30 or more – and when diet and exercise hasn’t worked to reduce weight. ESG leads to weight loss by limiting how much you can eat. The minimally invasive nature of the procedure reduces the risk of operative complications and allow one to quickly return to daily activities.

In India, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension is a growing burden. An unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity and obesity are few of the modifiable risk factors that often underlie major NCDs. As per reports almost 9.5 percent of adolescent population is overweight, and another 5 percent are obese.

Dr Y Rami Reddy, Sr. Consultant – Interventional Gastroenterologist at Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Hyderabad said, “Obesity is not just a cosmetic issue, it is a metabolic disease associated with several chronic illnesses such as heart ailments, high blood pressure, fatty liver diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea and joint disorders. Obesity may aggravate these conditions or even cause further comorbidities to appear. When lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and exercise hasn’t led to weight loss, a safe intervention such as ESG may result in significant weight loss with improvements in metabolic comorbidities. Like any other weight loss procedure, ESG requires the patient’s commitment to a healthier lifestyle. You will have to make changes to your lifestyle, such as adopting a healthy diet and regular exercise, to ensure the long-term success of this surgery. “

During ESG, a GI specialist inserts an endoscope or thin flexible tube fitted with a camera down the patients throat. A clear visualisation of the stomach allows the doctor to then insert sutures to the stomach to change its structure, leaving it shaped like a tube and thereby reduce the size of the patient’s stomach. It is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 90 minutes and is usually an outpatient procedure.

After this procedure, the patient is allowed to start a liquid diet that will continue for one week and approximately two weeks after the procedure, you can move on to semi solids and then on to a normal, healthy diet. When combined with lifestyle modification, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty results in about 15% to 20% total body weight loss at 12 to 24 months.

A thorough screening process will help doctors determine if the procedure will be beneficial for you. Patients must be willing to commit to making healthy lifestyle changes and regular medical follow up. Certain health conditions such as gastritis or ulcers could hamper your chances for having this procedure. ESG is a good option to consider because of its minimally invasive technique & its effectiveness compared to a traditional surgery.