A minimally invasive procedure to reduce stomach volume is a way to help people with obesity achieve significant weight loss. One person who has had the treatment tells their story.

Yves Renuixen had always been fit and healthy. As someone who enjoyed walking regularly and going to the gym four or five times a week, gaining weight was the furthest thing from his mind. That all changed in 2019 when he was given a CT scan following an infection and received a shock cancer diagnosis.

Struggle with weight and health issues

“I was told I had a tumour on my spleen and needed surgery,” says Renuixen. “When the Covid-19 lockdowns started, I was classed as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ because I no longer had a spleen and couldn’t leave the house.” Being unable to exercise took a mental and physical toll. Feeling isolated and depressed, he put on over 50kg (7.8 stone) and at his heaviest weighed more than 152kg (23.9 stone). In 2023, his doctor referred him to dietitians and a psychologist. Despite this, Renuixen’s weight struggles continued.

Life-changing minimally invasive procedure

In May 2024, the team at St Mary’s Hospital explained that he was suitable for a minimally invasive procedure called endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) which had received positive guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).¹ Designed to benefit patients living with obesity, ESG is performed under general anaesthetic, takes around 90 minutes and involves a thin, flexible tube with a small camera being passed through the mouth and into the stomach.² Most ESG procedures can be performed as a day procedure.

Boston Scientific manufactures minimally invasive medical device solutions, including the OverStitch Endoscopic Suturing System,² which is used during ESG procedures. The OverStitch device is attached to the end of the tube to stitch and fold together parts of the stomach wall to reduce its volume by 70%–80%.³ This reduces food intake by creating a sensation of fullness. When combined with diet and exercise, the ESG procedure can help those affected by obesity to lose weight.

Renuixen was the first patient to have ESG at St Mary’s, and the results have been life-changing. “I met the team around 8am, and the procedure was done by 10.30am,” he says. “It all felt very quick, and I didn’t feel sore, so it was kind of amazing. I was discharged just before 3pm and went back to my normal activities the next day.⁴”

It all felt very quick, and I didn’t feel
sore, so it was kind of amazing.

A ‘reset’ that offers a life-improving confidence boost

After the procedure, ESG patients reintroduce food slowly into their diet, progressing from liquid to solid food. While Renuixen needed to re-learn the capacity of his stomach, eating is still a pleasure. “I now eat less but still enjoy what’s on my plate,” he says, referring to his ESG procedure as a ‘reset button.’ “At a certain stage of a weight problem, it’s mental as much as physical, so exercise and dieting may only help so much. You need to reset.”

Regaining control

Now cancer-free and exercising regularly, he’s almost back to his normal weight. “I’m going to the gym five times a week, and I’ve joined a running club,” says Renuixen. “Seeing the transformation of your body is a boost to keep going. You stop hiding behind oversized clothes. You become more social. That’s what this procedure has done for me. It’s given me control over my life and my confidence back.”

Source: Boston Scientific 2025

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CAUTION: This material is for informational purposes only and not meant for medical diagnosis. This information does not constitute medical or legal advice, and Boston Scientific makes no representation regarding the medical benefits included in this information. Boston Scientific strongly recommends that you consult with your physician on all matters pertaining to your health. Results from case studies are not necessarily predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.

[1] Overview | Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for obesity | Guidance | NICE
[2] Endoscopic Weight-Loss Treatments
[3] Overview | Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for obesity | Guidance | NICE
[4] In the MERIT study, patients generally returned to routine daily activities in 2-3 days.

The post How a weight loss procedure turned one man’s life around appeared first on Health Awareness.

People with obesity often feel shame and avoid sharing their experiences of stigma. We encourage the community to raise awareness about the harm caused by this stigma.

Weight stigma is common in the workplace. International Coalition for People Living with Obesity (ICPO) members report they see the microaggressions on an interviewer’s face when they enter the room or are told they didn’t get the promotion despite conducting an excellent interview.

Forms of obesity stigma in society

In society, people may avoid sitting beside someone living with obesity on public transport. On TV, we see people living with obesity ridiculed. Assumptions are often made that people who carry excess weight are not driven to be active or take part in sports, which is often untrue.

More complex is the stigma that comes from family. It is now reported in research to be the highest-reported form of stigma above that in healthcare.¹ It is incredibly difficult to address, as it is almost entirely unintentional and unrecognised within the family.

How does a seven-year-old respond when they are brought to a slimming group by their mum so that they fit into a communion dress? Or, how would they respond to a parent who says they cannot sleep at night because they worry you are going to die of a heart attack?

Stigma in healthcare is one of
the forms of discrimination that
directly affects patients negatively.

Healthcare stigma impacts patients

Stigma in healthcare is one of the forms of discrimination that directly affects patients negatively, making them less likely to continue seeking care. Often, patients have a delayed diagnosis as the healthcare provider does not see past the weight.² Assumptions are often high that a person has not lost weight before or doesn’t take their health seriously, and the words used are harmful.

After being subjected to multiple forms of stigma often on a daily basis, it is no surprise to understand that self-internalised stigma is prevalent for people living with obesity. This stigma is deeply rooted in the beliefs many have. It results in low self-esteem, depression and anxiety, maladaptive eating behaviours and, most worryingly, avoidance of healthcare.

People with obesity need support

People living with obesity want a better quality of life and better health. They are more invested in their welfare than you may believe. They just need to be listened to, supported and respected like everyone else.

[1] Kirk, SFL. et al. Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: Reducing Weight Bias, Stigma and Discrimination in Obesity Management, Practice and Policy.
[2] O’Donoghue G. et al. 2021. A qualitative exploration of obesity bias and stigma in Irish healthcare; the patients’ voice. PLoS One.

The post Why weight stigma creates barriers for obesity patients in healthcare appeared first on Health Awareness.