You’ve struggled with losing weight for years. You lose some, you gain some more – if only you had the right tools for long-term success. Washington University Endoscopic Nonsurgical Weight Loss Program offers a variety of nonsurgical options and support services to help you achieve your weight-loss goals and live a healthy, active life. Take the first step to a healthier you … the choice is yours.
The safe and effective weight loss program includes a medical evaluation by board-certified Washington University gastroenterologists, as well as personalized counseling from a behavior coach and nutritional support from a registered dietician.
You are a candidate for the endoscopic weight loss program if:
- You are at least 30 pounds overweight
- You have attempted weight-loss through diet and exercise without success
- You are willing to participate in a medically supervised program, including nutritional counseling and lifestyle coaching
- You are 22 years of age or older
Because everyone is different, the first step of your weight loss journey is deciding which endoscopic nonsurgical procedure is right for you: intragastric balloon therapy, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty or endoscopic outlet repair.
Here’s a little information about how each outpatient procedure works:
INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON THERAPY
Our physician inserts a balloon device through your mouth and down to your stomach using an endoscope. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, helping you eat less food and feel full more quickly.
The device remains in your stomach for six months, is then deflated and removed the same way it was inserted.
Balloon therapy helps patients safely lose up to three-times more weight than diet and exercise alone.
ENDOSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTROPLASTY
This procedure reduces stomach volume and slows the speed at which food passes to the bowel – making you feel full more quickly. An endoscope is used to place a set of sutures in a section of the stomach. The sutures are tightened to bring sections of stomach tissue together. This creates a sleeve, reducing the stomach from the size of a football to about the size of a banana.
Patients achieve an average of 20% body weight loss 18 months after the procedure.
ENDOSCOPIC OUTLET REPAIR
This procedure helps those who have had bariatric surgery and have slowly regained weight. This happens when the reduced-stomach volume stomach pouch (or the connection from the stomach to the small intestine, called a stoma) that was created in bariatric surgery has stretched.
To reduce the enlarged stomach or stoma, the physician uses an endoscopic device to place sutures and creates a smaller stomach pouch.
Patients who have endoscopic gastric outlet repair lose about 25% of their excess body weight.
Because long-term weight loss requires a commitment to a healthy lifestyle, we provide additional tools to help you succeed.
Nutritional Support
Our dieticians offer focused, one-on-one counseling to discuss your current diet, physical activity and other lifestyle issues.
Behavioral Support
We know your weight loss journey can sometimes be an emotional one. We offer lifestyle coaching that encourages you to achieve your health and wellness goals.
For more information about the Nonsurgical Weight Loss Program: visit weightlosssurgery.wustl.edu or call 314-362-2652.
Washington University Endoscopic Nonsurgical Weight Loss Program
Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
Medical Office Building 3, Suite 100
1020 North Mason Road
Creve Coeur, MO 63141