Weight-loss operation you can have in 90 minutes which slashes the size of a patient’s stomach by two-thirds is recommended for introduction on the NHS

A weight loss procedure that reduces the size of a patient’s stomach by two-thirds without the need for major surgery has been recommended for introduction into the NHS.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), known as the “accordion procedure,” takes just 90 minutes and patients can leave the hospital later that day.

In a draft guideline, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said ESG should be offered to patients with a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more who have not lost weight through lifestyle changes of life.

Weight-loss surgery, such as gastric banding or bypass, is an option for those with a BMI of 40 or higher, or for patients with a BMI over 35 and other conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

But unlike these, ESG is potentially reversible since it does not involve cutting the stomach.

Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5bn a year and is the second largest preventable cause of cancer (File Photo)

Performed under general anesthesia, a surgeon guides a flexible tube containing a camera and medical instruments through the patient’s mouth and into the stomach.

Sections of the stomach wall are folded and sewn together to reduce its size and create a tube-shaped covering, which reduces the amount of food people can consume and makes them feel fuller sooner.

Clinical trials found that 77 percent of participants lost a quarter or more of their original weight one year after the procedure.

Professor Jonathan Benger, medical director at Nice, said: “One of the benefits is that this procedure can be carried out during the day and does not involve an overnight stay, reducing the time people spend in hospital compared to other options. surgery. Recovery is also faster.

Nice found that it was a “safe and effective” procedure and had economic benefits thanks to the potential benefits of helping patients avoid other diseases.

Obesity costs the NHS around £6.5bn a year and is the second biggest cause of preventable cancer.

Around 25.9 per cent of adults in England are obese and a further 37.9 per cent are overweight.

Professor Benger said surgical treatment options are in high demand and “not everyone is willing or able enough” to undergo an operation such as weight loss.

A consultation on the ESG procedure is open until October 26. It is Nice’s latest initiative to help combat obesity. Earlier this year, the Wegovy weight loss vaccine was given the green light for around 50,000 NHS patients.

WHAT SHOULD A BALANCED DIET LOOK LIKE?

Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains, according to the NHS.

• Eat at least 5 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried, and canned fruits and vegetables count

• Base meals are based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally whole grains.

• 30 grams of fiber per day: This is equivalent to eating all of the following: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 whole grain crackers, 2 thick slices of whole wheat bread, and one large baked potato with skin.

• Eat some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soy drinks) by choosing low-fat, low-sugar options.

• Eat some beans, legumes, fish, eggs, meat and other proteins (including 2 servings of fish each week, one of which should be fatty).

• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume them in small quantities

• Drink 6 to 8 cups/glasses of water a day

• Adults should consume less than 6 g of salt and 20 g of saturated fat for women or 30 g for men per day.

Fountain: NHS Eatwell Guide