The Role of Bariatric Arterial Embolization in Obesity Management: A Narrative Review

Obesity remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, contributing to significant metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychosocial burdens. Traditional interventions such as diet modification, pharmacologic therapy, and bariatric surgery often face limitations in effectiveness, accessibility, and patient acceptance. This qualitative narrative review examines bariatric arterial embolization (BAE), a minimally invasive endovascular technique that targets the gastric fundus to suppress ghrelin secretion and promote appetite regulation. By reducing hormonal drive to eat, BAE aims to achieve weight loss through physiological modulation rather than anatomical alteration. Evidence from clinical studies demonstrates that BAE produces meaningful short-term weight reduction. The procedure is generally well-tolerated, with transient abdominal discomfort and nausea being the most frequent minor side effects, and serious complications remaining uncommon. Compared to surgical approaches, BAE offers lower procedural risk, faster recovery, and broader applicability for patients seeking non-surgical solutions; however, its long-term durability and metabolic sustainability require further investigation. Overall, this review highlights BAE as a promising addition to the continuum of obesity management, bridging the gap between conservative and surgical interventions. Its minimally invasive, hormonally driven mechanism provides a feasible pathway for weight control and metabolic improvement, underscoring the need for continued research into standardized techniques, patient selection criteria, and long-term outcomes.