Obesity
From the AGA Journals
Health care costs nearly doubled for patients with NAFLD
Both hospitalizations and outpatient visits accounted for the increased costs.
Conference Coverage
Sleeve gastrectomy, antiobesity drugs underutilized
“While obesity has increased exponentially in the past decade, the trends of bariatric procedures and postoperative pharmacotherapy in this...
From the Journals
Obesity can shift severe COVID-19 to younger age groups
“This could turn into kind of a viral replication depot. You may well be brewing more virus as a component of obesity.”
Conference Coverage
High rate of fatty liver disease found among 9/11 first responders
This is likely because of toxin exposure at ground zero, which can cause a subtype of NAFLD known as toxin-associated fatty liver disease.
News
Postapproval data confirm risks with intragastric balloons
From the Journals
Obesity link to severe COVID-19, especially in patients aged under 60
Feature
COVID-19 cases highlight longstanding racial disparities in health care
Data on higher infection and death rates in African Americans from COVID-19 may serve as a call to action.
From the AGA Journals
Adolescents at risk of nutritional deficiencies after bariatric surgery
After 5 years, 27% of the participants who underwent vertical sleeve gastrectomy had two or more nutritional deficiencies.
Conference Coverage
Liraglutide gives adolescents with obesity an edge in managing weight loss
However, the rate of gastrointestinal effects in the liraglutide group was double that in the placebo group.
From the Journals
Belapectin misses endpoints in NASH trial
A post-hoc subgroup analysis suggested a benefit for patients without esophageal varices.