United Kingdom Bariatric Surgery Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023-2028)

The United Kingdom bariatric surgery market is expected to register a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the healthcare system around the world. The pandemic also impacted the UK bariatric surgery market. Due to the lockdown and government regulations, people in the United Kingdom were unable to go to work and exercise, and the increased stress due to the pandemic contributed to obesity in the country. For instance, in May 2020, an article titled 'The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Obesity and Bariatric Surgery' reported that elective bariatric surgery came to a grinding halt during the pandemic in the United Kingdom. Thus, an overall reduction in elective, urgent, and bariatric surgical procedures was observed during the lockdown, leading to a decreased demand for these surgical systems, which impacted their growth. However, after a few months, the market witnessed significant growth as these surgical services got resumed, and the sector has been recovering well since restrictions were lifted. During the post-pandemic phase, the bariatric surgery market has seen a surge due to the rise in adoption as per the patient's clinical need for the surgery. Moreover, the relaxation of restrictions has also led to an increased patient influx, thereby increasing the demand for bariatric surgery devices over the post-pandemic era.

The major factors contributing to the growth of the bariatric surgery market in the United Kingdom include an increase in obesity among people, a rising burden of diabetes and heart diseases, and rising government initiatives. In June 2022, the Government of the UK reported that, from November 2020 to November 2021, 25.3% of adults over the age of 18 had obesity. Such a huge prevalence of obesity in the UK is expected to drive market growth due to the rising adoption of bariatric surgeries.

In addition, according to the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), in November 2022, it was found that 31.3% of 6-year-old children were living with diabetes in the most deprived areas. Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of several common diseases and causes of premature death, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Hence, as the prevalence of obesity is increasing, bariatric surgeries will also rise, which is expected to propel market growth.

Apart from this, the technological developments in the products related to bariatric surgery are also contributing to the growth of the studied market. For instance, in October 2021, Spatz launched the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved Spatz3 gastric balloon, the first adjustable gastric balloon system, to aid in weight loss for adult patients struggling with obesity in the United Kingdom along with 40 other countries.

Furthermore, in December 2021, Tonic Weight Loss Surgery launched a new initiative that aims to help people achieve this resolution, transforming their bodies, health, and their lives in 2022 to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle for people across the UK year-on-year. Such initiatives will further drive market growth due to the rising adoption of bariatric surgery devices in the United Kingdom.

Moreover, growing government initiatives is also contributing to the growth of the studied market. For instance, in 2021, the UK government revised its policies to take care of obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The policies include equipping the National Health Service (NHS) for the rapidly growing obese population in England, mandating proper operational policies needed for the planning, assessment, and management of the manual handling risks for the care and treatment of bariatric patients and designing buildings and vehicles to accommodate bariatric patients in safety and comfort and with dignity. Such government initiatives in the country are making people feel secure and comfortable. Thus, more people are opting for this surgical procedure, thereby driving the studied market.

Thus, due to aforesaid reasons, the market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. However, the high cost of surgery may slow down its growth over the forecast period.

Key Market Trends

Closure Device Segment Expected to Witness a Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period

The closure device is usually a metallic clip or suture (stitch) designed to provide immediate sealing of the small puncture made during bariatric surgery procedures, thereby preventing the chance of internal bleeding. Closure devices are expected to witness significant growth because of the increased number of bariatric surgery and obesity-related cardiovascular surgical procedures performed in the United Kingdom. Obesity causes the body cells to become resistant to insulin, which leads to high blood glucose and leading to diabetes. The high blood glucose from diabetes damages blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels, subsequently contributing to heart diseases. Thus, obesity also contributes directly to incident cardiovascular risk factors, including dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep disorders.

According to the study published in Link Springer in September 2022, in the United Kingdom, Cutanplast plug closure of port-site trocar incisions is quick, effective, and has the potential to save operating times as well as prevent bleeding and herniation following port-site trocar insertion, especially in obese patients. Such studies show the importance of closure devices in bariatric surgery, as well as leading to increased adoption of these devices, driving the segment growth.

The use of closure devices causes less pain and discomfort to patients compared to manual compression. These devices also stop bleeding more quickly, meaning that, following a procedure, patients can move about and leave the hospital sooner than if other techniques had been used. The laparoscopic port closure device successfully closes port sites in obese patients undergoing bariatric procedures and surgeries.

Thus, due to the aforesaid mentioned reasons, this segment is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period.

Gastric Band Segment Expected to Show a Healthy Growth Over the Forecast Period

A gastric band is a silicone ring that is positioned around the stomach to form a tiny pouch and limit how much food can be consumed at once. The surgery is performed under general anesthetic using keyhole surgery. Gastric band surgery, which is used to treat obesity, is said to be less invasive than other weight-loss procedures like gastrectomy.

The reduction in future hospital costs with gastric band bariatric surgery in the UK is expected to drive segment growth over the forecast period. For instance, according to the study published in the International Journal of Obesity in July 2021, the inpatient expenses related to bariatric surgery with the gastric band in the UK increased considerably in the year of the procedure but declined over the next four years. Such studies help in the adoption of gastric band surgeries in the United Kingdom, driving the segment growth.

Furthermore, the gastric band is the only weight loss procedure that is fully reversible. The other procedures require a greater change to internal anatomy and thus cannot be reversed. Therefore, the reversible property of this procedure will lead to the inclination of people in the UK toward this surgery, thereby driving market growth due to the increased adoption of gastric bands. Therefore, owing to factors such as the reversible property of gastric band procedure, the decline in cost expenditure after gastric band surgery in obese patients is anticipated to drive segment growth.

Competitive Landscape

The UK bariatric surgery market is moderately competitive due to the presence of fewer companies operating globally as well as regionally. The factors owing to the competition include the rising initiatives from the key market players for the launch of innovative surgeries. Some of the international and local companies operating in the market include Apollo Endosurgery Inc., B. Braun SE, Intuitive Surgical Inc., Johnson and Johnson, Medtronic PLC, Olympus Corporation, and Standard Bariatrics Inc.

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