While the latest weight-loss medications continue to draw public attention, a recent study suggests that a far less glamorous procedure could be the real game-changer for those wrestling with obesity. The procedure in question, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), is showing potential to trump the much-hyped diet drugs in both cost and effectiveness.
Despite the fanfare around drugs like the newly FDA-approved tirzepitide and semaglutide, the often overlooked ESG is not only less invasive but also comes with a lighter price tag. According to a study from the Harvard Gazette, the cost of ESG over a five-year span tallies up to $19,685, whereas the tab for semaglutide hits a hefty $53,268. The starkest difference, of course, is the procedure's greater impact on weight loss—ESG patients lost 18 percent of their body weight on average within that same period.
"GLP-1s changed the landscape," Muhammad Haseeb, the lead author of the study, told the Harvard Gazette. Despite the efficacy of the new medications, he highlights the steep cost—more than quadruple that of previous drugs. This financial aspect, alongside the potential for more significant weight loss, is bringing ESG into the spotlight as a sustainable alternative to pricier prescriptions.
The non-surgical nature of ESG could also offer relief to patients wary of going under the knife. The outpatient procedure takes about an hour to perform with no incisions necessary, which could lead to fewer risks and complications. These merits have yet to translate into broader acceptance and utilization, possibly due to a lack of awareness and the overshadowing excitement over the introduction of the latest GLP-1 weight-loss medications.
Another Harvard expert, Jagpreet Chhatwal, emphasized that although the new medications aren’t overused, their "current pricing structure is disproportionate to their value," according to the Harvard Gazette. Chhatwal, according to a study he co-authored, suggests that for semaglutide to match the five-year cost-effectiveness of ESG, its price would need to plunge from its current $13,618 to $3,591 per year.
America's obesity epidemic puts a spotlight on the importance of cost-effective treatments. A national study from 2020 pegged the annual medical costs associated with obesity at a staggering $173 billion. The budgetary implications are clear—a shift towards high-cost drugs could send healthcare spending through the roof.
Considering the scale of the issue, enduring and financially viable options are critical. As researchers continue to explore and elucidate the benefits of procedures like ESG, the healthcare community may well be prompted to pivot towards more economically sustainable solutions for tackling obesity.
