NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Ursodeoxycholic acid for the prevention of gallstones after bariatric surgery is not universally helpful in all patients, new research suggests. Taking the bile salt helps reduce the occurrence of gallstones in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric…

(Reuters Health) – People with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery have a higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with sleeve gastrectomy than with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a randomized controlled trial found. Researchers randomized patients with severe obesity and type…

Using a procedureless intragastric balloon (PIGB) as a first-line treatment for obesity is cost effective as either a standalone intervention or a bridge to bariatric surgery, according to a new simulation model study published in PLOS One. PIGB boasts a…

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Obese patients who choose sleeve gastrectomy (SG) may have fewer complications requiring emergency care and hospitalization than peers who choose Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYBG). However, any acute-care cost advantages of SG may wane over time,…

Dr Maria S. Altieri There is a need to update the current criteria for the bariatric/metabolic surgery indication to include patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 to 35 kg/m2 (class 1 obesity), says the lead author of…