GI device market grows to $14.6B due to gastric banding

Once an experimental procedure for severely obese people, gastric bypass and banding have become more common, driving gastrointestinal device sales to $14.6 billion, according to a recent report from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information.

In the report “The World Market for Gastrointestinal Devices,” Kalorama states that the number of procedures for gastric banding has increased 22 times since the early '90s.

[See also: Treating morbidly obese patients adds considerable cost]

The adjustable gastric band is the most commonly used device to treat obesity. Banding devices are made of inert materials such as silicone and are implanted around the proximal stomach to decrease food intake. As the United States continues to struggle with rapidly increasing obesity rates, the country's market for devices is expected increase.

"Gastric banding used to be the last resort for the morbidly obese, those who needed to lose in excess of one hundred pounds," said Bruce Carlson, publisher of Kalorama Information, in a statement. "Now you see procedures for 'next tier' patients, those who are unsuccessful after repeated attempts to reduce their weight through diet and exercise."

Concerns about more threatening conditions such as diabetes and heart disease are encouraging the "next tier" procedure decisions, said Carlson.

Procedure volumes were minimal in 1993, with about 16,800 reported for the year. Today, industry sources estimate that there were about 370,000 procedures in 2009, according to the report.

Follow HFN editor on Twitter @ReneLetourneau.