Will Gastroenterologists Be Successful as Metabolic Physicians

As the result of incomplete treatments, obesity continues to be a worldwide origin for multiple medical problems, including metabolic disorders. With the worldwise rise in obesity, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has increased in both men and women. Effective treatments for obesity can improve the treatment of metabolic disorders. The adjustable gastric band and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy are less complex gastric surgeries utilized by bariatric surgeons for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Studies have supported the utility of both of these gastric surgeries for the treatment of subgroups of individuals with diabetes mellitus. The field of gastroenterology has mainly been examining four major endoscopic procedures for the treatment of obesity: intragastric balloons, intragastric aspiration systems, intraluminal gastric suturing, and intraluminal barriers deployed within the upper small intestine. Ongoing studies are examining the ability of these endoscopic procedures to treat metabolic disorders, which includes reduction in the blood levels of hemoglobin A1C in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Ongoing issues are discussed that should be addressed prior to the wide spread utilization of endoscopic procedures for the treatment of this metabolic disorder.