Medical Marvels: New procedure to lose weight

NEW YORK (WABC) -- For the next six weeks, Eyewitness News will be taking you inside Manhattan's New York-Presbyterian Hospital for a look at some extraordinary stories that we call Medical Marvels. It's a web series exclusive to 7online.

In part 1, you will meet Maureen Cavanaugh, who has struggled with her weight for years. She says she's tried every type of diet and weight loss regimen imaginable.

In March, she underwent a new procedure called an Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty, performed by Dr. Marc Bessler at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. Marc Bessler, Chief of Minimal Access/Bariatric Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

The non-surgical, outpatient procedure is intended for people who don't need to lose a dramatic amount of weight or don't qualify for weight loss surgery.

Maureen's goal is to lose about 60 pounds. She's already half way there!

New York-Presbyterian Hospital is the primary venue for the ABC series NY Med, which airs Thursday night at 10:00 p.m. on Channel 7.

The hospital is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive hospitals, with some 2,600 beds. In 2013, there were more than 2 million inpatient and outpatient visits to the hospital, including close to 15,000 deliveries and more than 310,000 emergency department visits. More than 6,500 affiliated physicians and 20,000 employees provide state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory, and preventive care in all areas of medicine at six campuses.

To learn more, please visit nyp.org and Columbia University Medical Center.