an average of 30lb. weight loss over a three month period

Exciting news comes from the company GI Dynamics which has produced a new stomach bypass “sleeve” which mimics gastric bypass surgery without the need for potentially dangerous stitching and cutting. Clinical testing done with this gut lining sleeve has produced good results with an average of 30lb. weight loss over a three month period.

The results of the clinical testing were made public in Buenos Aires at the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity & Metabolic Disorders World Congress. In all 37 volunteers were examined of whom 26 were using the stomach bypass sleeve which the company has called the EndoBarrier. The other eleven volunteers in line with proper clinical testing procedures were used to provide a control group and were subjected to a healthy diet.

GI Dynamics said that during the course of the study there had be no complications reported and that the EndoBarrier had been easily inserted and taken out in all cases. Nevertheless more clinical testing needs to be done and it needs to be established whether the EndoBarrier will be safe for long term use. Some experts question whether over the long term it could cause irritation to the gut or move out of place. GI Dynamics said they had plans to continue testing the EndoBarrier and will be making the results known as soon as possible.

Stomach bypass surgery is used to often as a last resort to help obese people who are in danger from some serious life threatening obesity related illnesses to lose weight. There is a certain amount of risk attached to the surgery which is accentuated by the fact that the patients are all obese. Being able to have a non surgical stomach bypass operation could greatly reduce the discomfort and danger associated with these operations, and therefore the EndoBarrier could have a very useful application.