The obesity rate among Taiwanese is as high as 50%, which may increase the risk of vascular disease! Invisible gastric lift endoscopic weight loss, successful fat loss

According to the latest statistics from the National Health Administration, the overweight and obesity rate among adults in Taiwan has reached 50.8%, including 57.1% for men and 43.3% for women. Obesity not only affects daily life, but also significantly increases multiple health risks. Studies have shown that for every five units increase in BMI, the risk of death from vascular disease increases by 40%, the risk of degenerative arthritis increases by 35%, and the risk of cancers such as esophageal adenocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and gallbladder cancer increases by 1.24 to 1.59 times, respectively. Director Zheng Yiqin of the Weight Management Center and Digestive Medical Center of Taiwan Adventist Hospital said that obesity is no longer just an appearance problem, but also a major issue that affects overall health.

What are the common ways to lose weight?

Director Zheng Yiqin explained that currently common methods of weight loss include diet, exercise, medication or weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery is currently used to treat obesity and related complications. Like other therapeutic surgeries, weight loss surgery requires specific indications and can only be performed after evaluation by a professional physician. Bariatric surgery can be roughly divided into gastroscopic surgery performed by internal medicine and laparoscopic surgery performed by surgery.

Gastroscopic surgery: including intragastric polo surgery, scarless gastric lift (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, ESG), etc.

Laparoscopic surgery: including sleeve gastrectomy, Y-type gastric bypass, SASI (single anastomosis ileum double channel gastric bypass), etc.

A 44-year-old Ms. Li had a BMI of 46.6 (124kg; 163cm). She successfully lost 20kg through weight loss medication, but once she stopped taking the medication, she gained weight again, and even gained back to 114kg. She was always drowsy at work and had health problems such as prediabetes and high blood lipids. She thought she couldn't go on like this at the age of 40, so she decided to discuss weight loss surgery with her doctor. She has been doing the invisible gastric lift for three years and has lost weight from 114 kg to 65 kg (BMI 24.4). This change has helped her regain her confidence, greatly improved her quality of life, and freed herself from metabolic syndrome.

Survey: Nearly half of the respondents believe they have failed to lose weight

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the public's awareness of weight loss surgery, a survey conducted by the Internet Thermometer "Weight Loss Surgery Awareness" showed that nearly half (47.9%) of the respondents believed that they had not successfully lost weight. Among them, the success rate of weight loss through surgery was the highest at 54.5%, while the success rate of weight loss through medication was only 34.1%. In addition, the survey found that more than half (55.9%) of those who failed to lose weight were troubled by the fact that the health education information was similar. Director Zheng Yiqin further shared that weight loss treatment varies from person to person, and suggested that through shared decision-making with doctors and patients, a weight loss plan that suits them can be tailored.

However, according to the survey, it was also found that the public has three major myths about weight loss surgery, including: (1) believing that weight loss surgery is equivalent to gastric resection, (2) believing that weight loss surgery can be performed regardless of BMI, and (3) believing that weight loss surgery will not cause weight gain again. Further observation revealed that the two main factors hindering the willingness to undergo bariatric surgery were concerns about the safety of bariatric surgery (40.9%) and fear of gastric resection and changes in the original intestinal structure (36.6%). However, the survey also found that if bariatric surgery could improve physical health, reduce metabolic diseases (56.9%), and be highly safe (52.0%) and have a short recovery period (41.3%), the willingness to undergo treatment would increase. Director Zheng Yiqin also further shared that according to clinical literature, a weight loss of 10% has the opportunity to reduce the risk of comorbidities.

Gastroscopy for weight loss without leaving any marks on the stomach, stabilizing blood pressure and blood lipids

Director Zhou Juguang of the Gastroenterology, Hepatobiliary and Weight Loss Center of Chiayi Christian Hospital shared that in recent years, endoscopic weight loss surgery technology has developed rapidly, among which endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (abbreviated as "scarless gastric lift", "endoscopic gastric suture", "ESG") has become a new option for patients. This procedure uses gastroscopy combined with minimally invasive endoscopic technology to suture and reduce the stomach capacity by 70% to achieve a weight loss effect. It has the advantages of a short recovery period, low surgical risk, and no surface injuries.

Who is suitable for the seamless stomach lift?

The seamless gastric lift is suitable for the following groups: those who have poor results from drug treatment or who have repeatedly gained weight again, those with mild obesity and metabolic diseases (BMI above 27), and patients with moderate to severe obesity who wish to avoid or are not suitable for surgical surgery.

According to clinical evidence, patients can reduce their total weight by an average of 15% to 20% ten years after surgery. Research has also found that the seamless gastric lift has a good therapeutic effect on type 2 diabetes, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease and sleep apnea caused by obesity, and the postoperative risk is less than 1%, fully demonstrating the safety and long-term effects of this procedure. Among them, the European Association of Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases (IFSO) have all included scarless gastric lift (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, ESG) in their treatment guidelines.

The European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons (EAES), the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS), and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Diseases (IFSO) have all included scarless gastrectomy (endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, ESG) in their treatment guidelines.

Previously, some netizens discussed on the Internet whether the threads would become loose after the seamless gastrectomy surgery, leading to weight gain again? Director Zheng Yiqin explained that the seamless gastric lift uses a suture system to heal the serosal layer to reduce the gastric volume. Although a small number of patients may experience loose sutures after surgery, as long as the diet and exercise are adjusted after the operation, it can clinically achieve good weight loss results. In addition, some people are worried that the risk of cancer will increase after surgery. The director also explained that according to clinical and literature, there is no data to show that the surgery will increase the risk of cancer, but gastroscopy, ultrasound and other examinations must be performed before surgery to prevent the disease from being discovered in its early stages.

Appropriate weight loss goals: determined by shared decision making (SDM)

Director Zheng Yiqin explained that the weight loss plan and goals suitable for each person are different. He suggested that the individual and the doctor discuss the most appropriate weight loss method. Through discussion, both parties can better understand the disease and treatment and make the most appropriate treatment decision. Finally, Director Zhou Juguang also reminded that the treatment of obesity requires cooperation from many aspects. It is not just relying on doctors' surgery or medication to maintain it. Patients must also cooperate with the diet and exercise plans given by nutritionists and sports therapists during treatment and develop habits in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle that is not easy to gain weight again.