More than 200,000 Americans each year undergo a major operation called bariatric surgery to treat obesity. But doctors say millions more might opt for treatment if it were less invasive and more patient-friendly…At the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., Christopher Gostout aims to mimic the effect of a sleeve gastrectomy, creating the stomach tube by stapling off instead of cutting out a large portion of the stomach. All six patients treated so far have lost weight with minimal side effects, Dr. Gostout says.

Wall Street Journal by Ron Winslow

Tags: bariatric surgery, Dr. Christopher Gostout, gastrectomy, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Obesity, Wall Street Journal, Weight, weight loss, Wellness