Global research trends on endoscopic bariatric surgery: bibliometric analysis over past 2 decades

Endoscopic bariatric surgery (EBS) has rapidly evolved as a minimally invasive and effective intervention for obesity. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the global landscape, influential contributors, and emerging research directions in the field of EBS. Publications on EBS from 2007 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R (bibliometrix package). Analyses included keyword clustering, temporal stratification by procedure type and study design, and mapping of international collaborations. A total of 999 publications from 45 countries were identified. The USA led in both publication volume and citations. Key institutions included Harvard Medical School, Mayo Clinic, and Brigham and Women's Hospital. Obesity Surgery was the most prolific and influential journal, followed by Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases and Surgical Endoscopy. Eight major research clusters were identified, covering comprehensive clinical approaches, pathogenesis and risk assessment, complications management, biliary/procedural complications, procedural outcomes, and technical innovations. Recent years have seen a marked increase in randomized controlled trials and international collaborations. Citation burst analysis revealed a shift from foundational and procedural topics to current hotspots including advanced endoscopic techniques, metabolic effects, complication prevention, and evidence-based guidelines. This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of global EBS research. It highlights evolving research priorities and collaboration patterns, offering actionable insights to guide future studies and optimize clinical strategies in the management of obesity.