All Clarivate websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

More information on our cookie policy.

BioWorld. Link to homepage.

Clarivate
  • BioWorld
  • BioWorld MedTech
  • BioWorld Asia
  • BioWorld Science
  • Data Snapshots
    • BioWorld
    • BioWorld MedTech
  • Special reports
    • Aging
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Coronavirus
    • IVDs on the rise
    • Top Biopharma Trends of 2021
    • Top Med-tech Trends of 2021
    • Premium reports
      • BioWorld Financings Reports
      • Disease Incidence & Prevalence Summaries

BioWorld. Link to homepage.

  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Subscribe
BioWorld - Friday, August 19, 2022
Home » Blogs » BioWorld MedTech Perspectives » Much ado about obesity

BioWorld MedTech Perspectives
BioWorld MedTech Perspectives RSS FeedRSS

BioWorld MedTech

Much ado about obesity

Aug. 10, 2015
By Amanda Pedersen
No Comments

Cheesburger and StethoscopeFive years ago during Cleveland Clinic's 2010 Medical Innovation Summit, a panel audience was asked, by a show of hands, if they considered obesity a disease. Only about half the audience raised their hand. The other half raised their hand when asked if obesity was a lifestyle choice.

Keep in mind, this was a well-educated audience comprised of healthcare executives, clinicians, and investors. And yet, only about half of them were willing, at that time, to call obesity a disease. If the same audience was polled on the topic again today, I'd like to think the outcome would be different.

Debating the legitimacy of obesity as a disease does nothing to solve the epidemic. Instead, that kind of thinking only feeds the stigma that keeps people from seeking weight-loss treatment. It's also the kind of thinking that helped stifle innovation in the U.S. obesity market for nearly three decades as companies have struggled to gain regulatory approval and reimbursement for new weight loss technology.

Fortunately, the tide seems to be changing and a plethora of new weight loss devices have been introduced just in the past three months.

Since May, the FDA has approved two different balloon-based weight loss devices (Apollo Endosurgery's Orbera and Reshape Medical's dual balloon system) and a neuromodulation device that blocks signals between the brain and the stomach (the Maestro system from Enteromedics). The agency also cleared a new gastric sleeve product that Medtronic inherited from its Covidien acquisition. Other devices are in the pipeline and could enter the U.S. market next year.

The reality is obesity is both a disease and a lifestyle issue. That's why companies like Apollo and Reshape and several others in the space have built a support program around the therapy to help patients learn how to modify their behavior and, in theory, maintain a healthy weight after the procedure. And it is not a problem that will be solved overnight or even in five years. But with so many new minimally-invasive treatment options finally reaching the U.S. market, and hopefully a reduced stigma about what obesity actually is, I am optimistic that more patients will seek help before they reach the point where an invasive surgery is their only option.

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Popular Stories

  • Free access to BioWorld coronavirus articles

    BioWorld
    The articles in this collection are from BioWorld’s ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. They are available for free with registration. Note...
  • Today's news in brief

    BioWorld
    BioWorld briefs for Aug. 19, 2022.
  • Today's news in brief

    BioWorld MedTech
    BioWorld MedTech briefs for Aug. 19, 2022.
  • Pig organ cells

    Whole body cellular function recovery in pigs after death

    Science
    A new system for restoring cell function and tissues in mammals after death could expand the availability of organs for transplantation. The research also opens...
  • TPOXX

    Siga leads monkeypox antiviral research, amid lack of interest from big pharma

    BioWorld
    After declarations from the World Health Organization and the U.S. government that monkeypox is a public health emergency, attention is turning to the pharma...
black cortellis ad

BioWorld Premium

Enjoy extended coverage for the most complete market view with BioWorld, BioWorld MedTech, and BioWorld Asia in a single, easy to access subscription.

Subscribe
  • BioWorld
    • Today's news
    • Analysis and data insight
    • Clinical
    • Data Snapshots
    • Deals and M&A
    • Financings
    • Newco news
    • Opinion
    • Regulatory
    • Science
  • BioWorld MedTech
    • Today's news
    • Clinical
    • Data Snapshots
    • Deals and M&A
    • Financings
    • Newco news
    • Opinion
    • Regulatory
    • Science
  • BioWorld Asia
    • Today's news
    • Analysis and data insight
    • Australia
    • China
    • Clinical
    • Deals and M&A
    • Financings
    • Newco news
    • Regulatory
    • Science
  • BioWorld Science
    • Archives
    • Today's news
    • Search BioWorld Science
    • About
  • More
    • About
    • Archives
    • Article reprints and permissions
    • Contact us
    • Cookie policy
    • Copyright notice
    • Data methodology
    • Podcasts
    • Privacy policy
    • Share your news with BioWorld
    • Staff
    • Terms of use
Follow Us

Copyright ©2022. All Rights Reserved. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing