Jason Bill, MD, an interventional gastroenterologist with OSF HealthCare, offers an endoscopic bariatric procedure called endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty that helps patients jump-start long-term weight loss without surgery.

This procedure is part of the OSF bariatric program, in collaboration with OSF Mission Partners at the RiverPlex Weight Management Clinic in downtown Peoria, providing patients with both medical treatment and long-term lifestyle support.

A middle-ground weight loss option

Endoscopic bariatric procedures are non-surgical and minimally invasive, making them an attractive option for patients who want more than medication but are not ready for, or do not qualify for, traditional bariatric surgery.

Dr. Bill describes the procedure as a long-term weight loss option, designed to help patients build sustainable habits rather than relying on short-term fixes.

How the procedure works

While the procedure is non-surgical, it is still performed under general anesthesia. Patients are treated in an outpatient setting and typically go home one to two hours after their procedure.

“It’s similar to any diagnostic camera test that GI doctors do every day,” Dr. Bill says. “We take a flexible tube, go down the mouth and into the stomach. Using a suturing device, we place six to eight sutures and tighten them to shrink the stomach by about 70%.”

By reducing the stomach’s size, patients feel full sooner, a concept known as early satiety, which helps reduce portion sizes and calorie intake.

Who is a good candidate?

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 50 are generally strong candidates for this procedure. BMI can be calculated when you divide your weight by the square of your height.

“The patients who tend to be most successful are still fairly active and fall in the BMI range of 30 to 40,” Dr. Bill adds. “They’re motivated, they’ve tried diet and exercise, but they just can’t get over that hump. This can be a great starting point.”

What recovery looks like

Recovery is typically smooth and straightforward. Mild abdominal discomfort and nausea are common for the first 72 hours, but symptoms after that are rare.

For the first six weeks, patients follow a restrictive diet, gradually transitioning to a calorie-controlled plan designed to support steady weight loss. This will look different for each individual patient, but talking it over with your OSF care team is a great start.

More Than Just Weight Loss

While patients can expect to lose approximately 15-20% of their total body weight, Dr. Bill emphasizes that the benefits go far beyond the number on the scale.

“We see improvement or reversal of diabetes, a decrease in sleep apnea and significant benefits for liver health,” he says. “For patients with fatty liver disease, we often see reversal as weight comes off.”

“In many cases, these outcomes are even more important than the weight loss itself.”

An option for those who struggle with weight loss medications

This procedure may also be a good alternative for patients who don’t tolerate weight loss medications, such as GLP-1s, very well.

“Weight loss medications have been incredibly helpful for some people,” Dr. Bill says. “But there are still big questions: What’s the endpoint? Do you take them forever? Is weight regained once you stop? We don’t yet have long-term data comparing all these methods.”

Support before and after the procedure

Weight loss doesn’t stop when the procedure is over. Before moving forward, patients meet with the Riverplex team. This includes educational classes, nutrition counseling and follow-up visits after the procedure.

Patients work closely with dietitians and nutritionists to understand what foods to prioritize, how many calories to consume and how to build habits that lead to lasting success.

A focus on long-term health

With obesity continuing to be a major health concern nationwide, Dr. Bill believes it must be treated seriously and proactively. Focusing on a well-balanced diet while living an active lifestyle are key.

For patients looking to make meaningful change this New Year, endoscopic bariatric procedures offer a powerful, supportive path forward; one that combines medical innovation with long-term guidance every step of the way.

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As we usher in a new year, it’s that time when we pledge to exercise more, save money, find a new hobby, or, in many cases, shed a few pounds.

Planning to save more money is once again a priority for many people making resolutions for 2026. But other top goals heading into the new year are commitments to eat healthier, exercise more and lose weight.

Nicole O’Neill is a dietitian with OSF HealthCare. Her job is to help clients navigate the choppy waters of starting diets, especially this time of year.

“Resolutions are big picture things,” O’Neill says. “So, if you have a resolution to lose X amount of weight, go ahead and make it. But then break it down into smart goals, little steps along the way so that you can achieve something and feel like you did something. So, you can celebrate a success. If you just say I want to lose a bunch of weight, it's not good enough. You have to say how much weight and how you're going to do it.”

Resolutions aren’t for everyone. O’Neill says it depends on the person's personality and what other factors are involved, such as stress, hormones, pain or lack of sleep. If you need a hard start and stop to see results, a New Year's resolution might just do the trick. For other people, however, resolutions are a potential recipe for failure.

The SMART goals O’Neill referenced are specific, measurable, and attainable, realistic and time bound. For example, rather than say you’re going to cut out all fast food, why not set a goal for eating at home more, she adds.

“So, if you say I want to lose 100 pounds, well sure we got the 100 pounds part but how are you going to do it? How long is it going to take you, what are all the pieces? Do you need to lose 100 pounds? Well, some people do, and some people don't,” O’Neill says. “If you weighed 120 pounds at 18 years old, and you tell me today, I want to be 100 pounds that's not realistic. Even 120 pounds might not be realistic. So, setting up a SMART goal is better than a resolution.”

There is no magic wand or secret formula for losing weight. O’Neill says it’s a combination of factors that are going to lead you down the path that is right for you on your weight loss journey.

“If you're not drinking enough water, add more water. If you're not sleeping, let's talk about that. If you're super stressed out, see a therapist. If you don't eat any fruits and vegetables, add one. Start with little baby steps and maybe that is the hidden nugget. Do one little thing and see how you do with it and let it snowball into the next thing and into the next thing instead of trying to tackle it all at once.”

If you’re still struggling to find success, O’Neill recommends having a conversation with your provider who can recommend other options such as medication management or counseling.

After all, what do you have to lose? 

 

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Emily Isom has a resolution for kids and their parents: pledge to keep your hands clean and away from your face to prevent the spread of illness.

Isom, a certified medical assistant in pediatrics at OSF HealthCare, often sees young people biting dirty fingernails and not washing their hands properly. Here’s a primer:

Nail hygiene

Isom says people of all ages should trim their nails regularly. Once a week for fingernails and once or twice a month for toenails is a good rule of thumb. In between trimmings, watch for dirt and other filthy matter caught under the tip of the nail. Some nail clippers come with a scraper tool to remove that debris. But don’t use your mouth to clean your nails.

“Our nails carry so many germs and bacteria. That’s how people keep getting sick and spreading illness,” Isom warns, referring to putting fingernails in your mouth or on your face. You can also chip teeth and get facial warts and pimples from putting nails on your face, she says.

Some people have long nails, either real or artificial. In these cases, use a nail brush to regularly wipe the nails clean. If you’re at work or school and don’t have a brush, wash the nails thoroughly. Lather warm water and soap on the palms of your hands. Take your fingertips and scratch against the palm of the other hand to get the soap in the fingernail. Do that for 20 seconds. Then, pull down the fingertips to the palm of the same hand and massage the soap in further. Put your hands upside down under hot running water to rinse.

Hand washing

Isom says most people concentrate on their palms when hand washing.

“You need to get in between the fingers, underneath the nails, on the back of the hands, rub your knuckles together and scrub your wrists,” Isom says.

After wetting your hands, scrub all those areas in soap for 20 seconds. Find a song that has a 20-second chorus and hum it while you scrub. Then, rinse under warm water, and dry your hands with a clean, dry towel. Isom also suggests wrapping a paper towel around your hand when touching dirty surfaces on your way out of the bathroom. Use the towel to shut off the faucet and open the door, then throw the towel away after you exit.

If a hand dryer is what’s available, run your hands under the warm air until they are completely dry. Resist the urge to dry halfway and walk out. Isom says that may do more harm than good and attract bacteria faster.

“Bacteria want to live on wet surfaces. They’re attracted to moistness,” she points out.

If a soap and sink aren’t available, Isom says to use sanitizer or wipes that are at least 60% alcohol based. The same process applies – lather or wipe all parts of your hand and wrist thoroughly.

If you have a cut or wound on your hand, like a paper cut, wash with care.

“Get a washcloth wet with warm water. Put soap on it. Then, clean around the cut or wound,” Isom says. “Don’t put [soap] directly into the cut. That could really irritate it.”

Convincing kids

Isom is a pediatrics provider and a mother. So, she knows getting kids to wash their hands and mind their nails is easier said than done. Her advice: make it fun.

“When handwashing, sing the ABCs for 20 seconds. Or have them sing to you.” Isom suggests. “Make a chart. Every time they wash their hands, have them put a sticker on the chart. They are going to fall in love with it and want to wash their hands over and over again.”

And remember Simon Says? Isom says it works with her daughter.

“Simon says don’t touch your face,” Isom says with a smirk.

Learn more

Read more about how to keep your hands clean and prevent the spread of illnesses on the OSF HealthCare and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.

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