Here's some good news for those who have obesity problems but are afraid to go under the knife. Over at the Cleveland Clinic where a three-day meeting on obesity is being hosted, Dr. Philip Schauer has revealed that soon they just might be able to cut the fat without cutting patients up.

Normally, in order to do such operations, doctors would have to open up the patient to gain access to the organ. But now, they are looking at new technology that will enable them to get into the patient's digestive system by merely inserting a tube through the mouth; hence requiring absolutely no incision at all. This method, known as Natural Orifice Transendoscopic surgery (NOTE), shall make use of long tubes with robotic arms and staple guns snaking down the esophagus.

Supposedly, this is much more safer, and also comes with a lower-cost proportion compared to doing surgeries with incisions. They are also looking into it as a preemptive operation for those patients who are less obese than those currently being considered for surgery. Dr. Schauer also shares that another possibility could be the insertion of a sleeve, or a tube, into the intestines that would interfere with calorie absorption. Or, if the procedure necessitates work in the lower portion of the intestines, the instruments could be inserted through the rectum.

However, all these are still mere possibilities, as they expect technology to be developed for it in about five to 10 years' time. So until this happens, those who need to shape up for their health would just have to brave it out at the operation table. But hey, at least there's something to look forward to, right?