Do Obesity Medications Mean the End of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies?

In this follow-up debate from LIBSS2025, Professor Vinod Menon once again joined Mr Ahmed Ahmed to discuss one of the most important questions in modern obesity care: will obesity management medications spell the end for endoscopic bariatric therapies?

With the rapid rise of injectable weight loss medications, the treatment landscape for obesity is changing quickly. These medications have created new opportunities for many patients and have helped bring obesity treatment into everyday medical conversation.

However, obesity is complex. No single treatment is right for every patient.

Endoscopic bariatric therapies may still have an important role to play, particularly for people who may not be suitable for surgery, who need a less invasive intervention, or who require a more structured treatment pathway alongside lifestyle and medical support.

The debate explored how these different treatments may sit alongside each other in the future. Rather than seeing medication, endoscopy and surgery as competing options, a more realistic approach may be to view them as part of a broader range of treatments for obesity and metabolic disease.

For some patients, medication may be the most appropriate starting point. For others, endoscopic or surgical options may offer better long-term outcomes. The key is careful assessment, realistic discussion and an individualised plan based on each patient’s health, weight history, medical conditions and treatment goals.

As Professor Menon argued in the debate, the future of obesity care is unlikely to be about one treatment replacing all others. It is more likely to involve a more personalised approach, using the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.

Watch the full debate here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=casA_ED6MyU