Intragastric Balloon

PHILADELPHIA — None of the top 25 insurers in the United States offer explicit policy coverage for primary or revisional endoscopic bariatric therapies, according to data presented at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting.

The obesity epidemic is one of today’s most blatantly visible — yet actively neglected — public health concerns, affecting more than 1 billion people globally, according to WHO.

An obesity treatment model that utilizes integrated, treatment-focused care and combination therapy when appropriate can enhance patient outcomes without significantly increasing risk, according to a speaker.

Procedure-less intragastric balloon, either as a bridge to bariatric surgery or as a stand-alone treatment, was cost-effective and improved health outcomes, according to research published in PLOS ONE.

The American Gastroenterological Association published new clinical practice guidelines on the use of intragastric balloons in obesity management.