Given the prevalence of obesity, any physician providing clinical care will be involved in the care of obese patients. Gastroenterologists will play an active role in the evaluation and treatment of these patients. Thereby, it is essential to fully understand the scope of the problem and the opportunities for intervention. The expert authors assembled for this issue offer expanded insight which can enhance care plans provided to this patient population. Since Dr. Johnson’s first issue published, there are several updates in this area, and the articles in this volume address those. These updates are seen in the areas of medical therapy, surgical options, and endoscopic treatments for obese patients.
Given the prevalence of obesity, any physician providing clinical care will be involved in the care of obese patients. Gastroenterologists will play an active role in the evaluation and treatment of these patients. Thereby, it is essential to fully understand the scope of the problem and the opportunities for intervention. The expert authors assembled for this issue offer expanded insight which can enhance care plans provided to this patient population. Since Dr. Johnson's first issue published, there are several updates in this area, and the articles in this volume address those. These updates are seen in the areas of medical therapy, surgical options, and endoscopic treatments for obese patients.
In the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity has doubled with over 600 million obese adults worldwide. The gastrointestinal complications of obesity are well publicized; however, the role of the gastrointestinal tract in the development and treatment of obesity is often understated. From the pathophysiologic role of gut hormones and the microbiota, to the purposeful, anatomic derangement of the gastrointestinal tract that is utilized as a treatment for obesity, it is imperative that gastroenterologists understand the full scope of obesity in relation to the gastrointestinal system. Studies suggest that in the U.S. obesity is underrecognized and undertreated by health care providers. Given its complex sociology, pathophysiology, and treatment, obesity, like many other diseases, requires a multidisciplinary approach. Therefore, gastroenterologists must be equipped with the relevant knowledge of obesity that will empower them to properly manage their patients.
In this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics, guest editor Dr. Lee M. Kaplan brings his considerable expertise to the topic of Management of Obesity, Part I: Overview and Basic Mechanisms. Most of the world's population live in countries where being overweight and obese is more life-threatening than being underweight. This preventable disease leaves patients with a cascade of health problems, resulting in serious stress and impact on global economies and healthcare systems. This issue, the first of two, addresses basic mechanisms and contributors of obesity, along with health care disparities and access.. Contains 16 practice-oriented topics including the many forms of obesity; genetic contributions to obesity; health complications of obesity; the effect of obesity on gastrointestinal disease; disparities in access and quality of obesity care; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews of management of obesity, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.
Many patients who are seen by gastroenterologists are overweight or obese. Moreover, gastroenterologists often are consulted to help manage obesity-related gastrointestinal diseases or gastrointestinal complications of weight loss therapy. Therefore, it is important for gastroenterologists to understand the key clinical issues associated with obesity that are discussed in this issue.  In addition, gastroenterologists can provide a valuable clinical service by becoming actively involved in helping their obese patients lose weight.
Dr. Rothstein has assembled top experts to present the current status of the role of endoscopy in managing the obese patient. Authors present current clinical information on the following topics: Small Bowel Target Devices and Techniques; Reimbursement Issues for Endoscopic Devices Used for Metabolic Endoscopy; the Physiologic Alteractions of Bariatric Surgery; Non-Balloon Gastric and Pyloric Therapies for Obesity; Aspiration Therapy for Obesity; Endoscopic Therapies after Surgery; Duodenal Mucosal Resurfacing: Role for Diabetes Treatment; Gastric Plication; and Gastric Balloons. Readers should come away with the information they need to utilize endoscopic techniques to improve outcomes in their patients.
In this issue of Gastroenterology Clinics, guest editor Dr. Lee M. Kaplan brings his considerable expertise to the topic of Management of Obesity, Part I: Overview and Basic Mechanisms. Most of the world's population live in countries where being overweight and obese is more life-threatening than being underweight. This preventable disease leaves patients with a cascade of health problems, resulting in serious stress and impact on global economies and healthcare systems. This issue, the first of two, addresses basic mechanisms and contributors of obesity, along with health care disparities and access.. Contains 16 practice-oriented topics including the many forms of obesity; genetic contributions to obesity; health complications of obesity; the effect of obesity on gastrointestinal disease; disparities in access and quality of obesity care; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews of management of obesity, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.
To date, diet programs and medical therapies for the treatment of obesity have had limited success. Bariatric surgery, however, provides a means of effective weight loss for many of those with morbid obesity. Most of these weight loss procedures are performed with a variety of techniques that continue to evolve. Each technique is associated with unique challenges and complications and it is important for the clinician to be knowledgeable about the endoscopic management of these patients. Additionally, as endoscopic technology evolves it may offer more than just the diagnosis and treatment of complications. Endoscopic therapy may soon allow less invasive bariatric revision procedures as well as a variety of primary obesity therapies for various patient populations. Bariatric Endoscopy reviews the management of obesity, normal post-surgical anatomy, endoscopic and medical management of post-surgical complications, and future endoscopic therapies for obesity management. Organized into five sections, the volume covers an obesity overview, traditional therapy, endoscopy and the bariatric patient, medical management of post-surgical complications, and the future role of endoscopy in obesity management. Detailed illustrations are also provided for surgical procedures, complications and obesity management chapters. Authored by authorities in the field, Bariatric Endoscopy is an indispensible tool for the gastroenterologist or surgical endoscopist as they care for patients with complicated bariatric issues.
Nearly one out of every three adults in America is obese and tens of millions of people in the United States are dieting at any one time. This has resulted in a weight-loss industry worth billions of dollars a year and growing. What are the long-term results of weight-loss programs? How can people sort through the many programs available and select one that is right for them? Weighing the Options strives to answer these questions. Despite widespread public concern about weight, few studies have examined the long-term results of weight-loss programs. One reason that evaluating obesity management is difficult is that no other treatment depends so much on an individual's own initiative and state of mind. Now, a distinguished group of experts assembled by the Institute of Medicine addresses this compelling issue. Weighing the Options presents criteria for evaluating treatment programs for obesity and explores what these criteria mean--to health care providers, program designers, researchers, and even overweight people seeking help. In presenting its criteria the authors offer a wealth of information about weight loss: how obesity is on the rise, what types of weight-loss programs are available, how to define obesity, how well we maintain weight loss, and what approaches and practices appear to be most successful. Information about weight-loss programs--their clients, staff qualifications, services, and success rates--necessary to make wise program choices is discussed in detail. The book examines how client demographics and characteristics--including health status, knowledge of weight-loss issues, and attitude toward weight and body image--affect which programs clients choose, how successful they are likely to be with their choices, and what this means for outcome measurement. Short- and long-term safety consequences of weight loss are discussed as well as clinical assessment of individual patients. The authors document the health risks of being overweight, summarizing data indicating that even a small weight loss reduces the risk of disease and depression and increases self-esteem. At the same time, weight loss has been associated with some poor outcomes, and the book discusses the implications for program evaluation. Prevention can be even more important than treatment. In Weighing the Options, programs for population groups, efforts targeted to specific groups at high risk for obesity, and prevention of further weight gain in obese individuals get special attention. This book provides detailed guidance on how the weight-loss industry can improve its programs to help people be more successful at long-term weight loss. And it provides consumers with tips on selecting a program that will improve their chances of permanently losing excess weight.
In the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity has doubled with over 600 million obese adults worldwide. The gastrointestinal complications of obesity are well publicized; however, the role of the gastrointestinal tract in the development and treatment of obesity is often understated. From the pathophysiologic role of gut hormones and the microbiota, to the purposeful, anatomic derangement of the gastrointestinal tract that is utilized as a treatment for obesity, it is imperative that gastroenterologists understand the full scope of obesity in relation to the gastrointestinal system. Studies suggest that in the U.S. obesity is underrecognized and undertreated by health care providers. Given its complex sociology, pathophysiology, and treatment, obesity, like many other diseases, requires a multidisciplinary approach. Therefore, gastroenterologists must be equipped with the relevant knowledge of obesity that will empower them to properly manage their patients.
