Clinics for Obesity: Why International Patients Are Choosing Global Obesity Group in Bogotá, Colombia

Quick answer: A clinic for obesity is a medical setting that treats obesity as a chronic disease, using a combination of medical therapy, endoscopic procedures, and bariatric surgery, with structured long-term follow-up. Global Obesity Group is one such clinic, headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, with four specialists running the medical and surgical tracks, operating in five reference hospitals in Bogotá, and offering Da Vinci robotic bariatric surgery at a fraction of US self-pay prices.

Adult obesity affects more than 40% of US adults, and the treatment landscape has changed more in the last five years than in the previous thirty. Semaglutide and tirzepatide entered the market. Robotic bariatric surgery scaled. Telehealth GLP-1 programs grew into billion-dollar businesses. International comprehensive clinics began competing directly with US hospital programs on quality, technology, and price.

For patients with class 1, 2, or 3 obesity (BMI 30 and up), the practical question is no longer whether treatment exists. It is which clinic to choose, and how to tell a serious program apart from one that only offers a single tool. This guide explains what a clinic for obesity actually is, what makes Global Obesity Group one of them, and what international patients can expect from our program.

What a clinic for obesity actually is

A clinic for obesity is a medical practice that treats obesity the way an oncology clinic treats cancer: as a chronic, relapsing, progressive disease (Bray GA et al., Obesity Reviews, 2017 — PMID 28489290). That means a defined treatment ladder, more than one tool, a team that includes both medical and surgical specialists, and a follow-up plan that runs at least two years.

It is not a weight-loss spa. It is not a telehealth pharmacy that ships compounded semaglutide after a five-minute intake. It is not a single-procedure surgical practice with no medical or nutritional support around the operation. A clinic for obesity diagnoses, stages, and matches treatment to the patient. Sometimes that means GLP-1 medication and lifestyle change. Sometimes a gastric balloon. Sometimes a sleeve. Often a combination over time.

Global Obesity Group: a comprehensive obesity clinic in Bogotá, Colombia

Global Obesity Group (GOG) is a comprehensive obesity clinic based in Bogotá, Colombia. We combine an obesity medicine director, three bariatric surgeons, a multidisciplinary medical team, and five reference hospital partnerships under one program. Patients come from Colombia and from more than 15 countries — primarily the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America — for both surgical and non-surgical care.

Two of our co-founders, Dr. Rubén Luna and Dr. Felipe Bernal, are bariatric surgeons. Our obesity medicine director, Dra. Paola Sánchez, designed and runs Método 4 PRO, our proprietary non-surgical track. Dra. Carolina Rodríguez, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), leads endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. The full team has more than 55 years of combined experience in bariatric and obesity medicine, with more than 6,500 patients treated across the surgical members.

The medical team

The team operates as one program, not a referral chain. The obesity medicine physician who evaluates you preoperatively is the one managing your case during follow-up. The surgeon who operates is the one you see at week 2, week 6, month 3, month 6, month 12. Multidisciplinary integration, not parallel businesses sharing a building, is what produces the best long-term outcomes (Kheniser K et al., Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021 — PMID 33595666).

The hospitals where we operate

Our surgeons operate at five reference hospitals in Bogotá, all selected for medical backing, surgical infrastructure, and patient-safety standards consistent with international hospital practice.

Hospital selection per patient depends on the procedure, the surgeon's primary affiliation, the patient's medical complexity, and timing. We discuss the specific hospital during the virtual consultation, before any travel is booked.

Da Vinci robotic bariatric surgery — pioneered in Colombia by our team

Dr. Rubén Luna performed the first 3-incision Da Vinci robotic bariatric procedures in Colombia in 2018. The Da Vinci platform allows the surgeon to operate through fewer, smaller incisions with greater precision than standard laparoscopy, particularly in revisional cases and in patients with anatomical complexity from prior abdominal surgery.

Robotic-assisted bariatric surgery has comparable safety and weight-loss outcomes to standard laparoscopy in primary cases, with measurable advantages in complex revisional surgery (Zhao S et al., Obesity Surgery, 2024 — PMID 39042305). For international patients, the Da Vinci option at GOG is priced where US laparoscopic surgery typically sits, not where US robotic surgery does. See the full Da Vinci program →

Método 4 PRO — the non-surgical track

Not every patient with obesity needs or wants surgery. About two-thirds of the patients managed by our obesity medicine team are treated non-surgically. Método 4 PRO is the program Dra. Paola Sánchez designed for them. It is built on four pillars: functional medicine evaluation (insulin resistance, hormonal panel, micronutrient deficiencies, thyroid and adrenal function), individualized nutrition, structured physical activity, and behavioral and metabolic follow-up over a 6-to-12-month protocol.

The program is offered to patients who do not yet meet surgical criteria, to patients who want to try a medical and lifestyle approach first, and to post-bariatric patients managing long-term weight maintenance. Method 4 PRO is what comprehensive obesity care looks like before, instead of, or after surgery — not a single pill or a single intervention.

Treatments offered at Global Obesity Group

Modern obesity medicine has four main treatment tracks. A clinic that only offers one is not comprehensive. At GOG, all four are available, and the recommendation is based on your case — BMI, comorbidities, prior weight history, goals, and preferences — not on what we sell.

Medical and obesity medicine evaluation

The medical track at GOG starts with a full evaluation by Dra. Paola Sánchez: medical history, weight history, prior treatments, comorbidities, and a metabolic and hormonal panel. From there, the program is built around the individual case — functional medicine workup, nutrition, structured activity, behavioral support, and clinical follow-up.

The current GLP-1 medications (semaglutide, tirzepatide) have changed parts of the obesity treatment landscape — the STEP 1 trial showed 14.9% mean weight loss at 68 weeks with semaglutide (Wilding JPH et al., NEJM, 2021 — PMID 33567185); SURMOUNT-1 showed 22.5% with tirzepatide 15 mg at 72 weeks (Jastreboff AM et al., NEJM, 2022 — PMID 35658024). The trials also documented substantial weight regain after the medication is stopped if no program is in place (Wilding JPH et al., Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2022 — PMID 35441470).

The conclusion we draw from this evidence: a clinic-grade evaluation matters more than a prescription. Treating obesity well requires diagnosing what is actually driving it in a specific patient, designing a program around that diagnosis, and following the patient long enough to see what works. That is what GOG does. It is the difference between a clinic for obesity and a pharmacy with a website.

Endoscopic procedures: the intragastric balloon

The intragastric balloon is a non-surgical, endoscopically placed device that stays in the stomach for 4 to 12 months. A 2017 meta-analysis showed 6-month total weight loss of 17.8% with balloon vs 9% with control (Saber AA et al., Obesity Surgery, 2017 — PMID 27465936). At GOG, the balloon is offered for class 1 obesity (BMI 30–34.9) and as a pre-surgical bridge for higher BMI when medically appropriate.

Bariatric and metabolic surgery

For class 2 obesity with comorbidities and class 3 obesity (BMI ≥ 40), surgery remains the most effective treatment for sustained weight loss. The 5-year STAMPEDE results showed bariatric surgery produced superior glycemic control and weight loss compared to intensive medical therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity (Schauer PR et al., NEJM, 2017 — PMID 28199805). Long-term meta-analysis at 10+ years confirms sustained weight loss across all major procedures (O'Brien PE et al., Obesity Surgery, 2019 — PMID 30293134).

GOG offers:

• Gastric sleeve gastrectomy — laparoscopic or Da Vinci robotic
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass — laparoscopic or Da Vinci robotic
• Bariatric revision surgery — for patients with weight regain or complications from a prior procedure
• Gastric balloon — non-surgical, endoscopic

Multidisciplinary support and long-term follow-up

Every surgical patient at GOG is evaluated preoperatively by the bariatric surgeon, the obesity medicine physician, nutrition, and psychology. Postoperative follow-up is structured at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months, with annual follow-up after. International patients continue follow-up by virtual visit after the first in-person visits in Bogotá.

Transparent pricing in USD

Cost is the second-most-googled question after "is this safe." US hospital programs rarely publish pricing. We do. The prices below are the all-inclusive USD prices for international patients as of 2026, covering surgeon fees, anesthesia, hospital stay, pre-operative evaluation, and postoperative follow-up in Bogotá.

For reference, US self-pay sleeve gastrectomy typically runs $15,000–$25,000 and US Da Vinci bariatric surgery $25,000–$45,000. Our pricing reflects Colombian cost structure, not Colombian standards of care.

The international patient process at GOG

This is what happens between your first inquiry and your return home, step by step.

1. Inquiry & medical questionnaire. Submit the international patient form. We respond within 24 business hours with next steps and an initial pricing range based on your case.
2. Private virtual consultation. 30 to 45 minutes with our medical team (obesity medicine physician and, if relevant, a bariatric surgeon). The consultation is paid. You leave with a written preliminary plan, with or without us as the clinic.
3. Pre-operative evaluation. Lab work, cardiology clearance, sleep study if indicated, psychology evaluation, nutrition consultation. Most of this can be completed in your home country; some occurs on arrival.
4. Travel and surgery. Typical stay in Bogotá: 7 to 10 days for sleeve or bypass, longer for revision. Surgery at one of our partner hospitals. Hospital stay: 1 to 2 nights for most laparoscopic and robotic procedures.
5. In-person post-op visits. Day 1, day 3, day 7 follow-up before you return home. Detailed post-op nutrition plan, medications, and warning signs documented in writing.
6. Long-term virtual follow-up. Scheduled visits at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months by virtual consultation. Lab work coordinated with a local provider in your home country.

Professional credentials and memberships

What to verify in any clinic for obesity, and what we hold:

• Board certification of surgeons in general surgery and bariatric/metabolic surgery — Dr. Luna, Dr. Bernal, and Dra. Rodríguez are all board-certified general surgeons with bariatric specialization.
• Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) — Dra. Carolina Rodríguez holds FACS designation.
• Active membership in international bariatric and digestive surgery societies — SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons), IFSO (International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity), ACOCIB (Colombian bariatric surgery association), ACDC (Colombian digestive surgery association).
• Academic affiliations — Associate professorships at Universidad El Bosque (Dr. Bernal) and FUCS Faculty of Medicine (Dra. Rodríguez). Department leadership at Clínica Shaio (Dr. Luna).
• Da Vinci robotic surgery certification — Drs. Luna and Bernal are certified Da Vinci surgeons. Dr. Luna performed the first 3-incision Da Vinci bariatric cases in Colombia.
• Obesity medicine specialization — Dra. Paola Sánchez leads the medical track with functional medicine and metabolic care expertise. ABOM certification is the recognized standard in the US (Fitch A et al., Obesity Pillars, 2023 — PMID 37990658); Dra. Sánchez's role is equivalent within the Colombian medical system.

How GOG compares to other obesity clinic models

Five distinct models compete for the same patient in 2026. Here is how we sit relative to each:

• Hospital-based weight management programs (US) — Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, Duke, Johns Hopkins. Strong institutional reputation, full multidisciplinary teams. Long waitlists, insurance gatekeeping, geographic limits. GOG offers comparable comprehensive care without those access barriers.
• Telehealth obesity clinics — Ro, Calibrate, LillyDirect, Found. Convenient GLP-1 prescriptions by mail. No endoscopic or surgical option. GOG offers the full continuum.
• Standalone bariatric surgery practices — Surgical focus, variable medical follow-up. GOG integrates surgery with the medical track under one team.
• Comprehensive private obesity clinics (US) — Same multidisciplinary model as GOG, US pricing.
• Other international comprehensive clinics — Programs in Mexico, Turkey, Spain. Quality varies. GOG's differentiators: Da Vinci robotic surgery available, JCI-standard reference hospitals, surgical pioneer status (Da Vinci 3-incision in Colombia), structured 24-month follow-up, English-speaking team.

The right clinic depends on your case. Insurance coverage, geography, urgency, BMI, comorbidities, and personal preference all matter. We are not the right clinic for every patient. We are a strong fit for self-pay patients in the US, patients facing long waitlists at home, patients who want robotic surgery without US robotic pricing, and patients who value an integrated team over a referral chain.

Frequently asked questions

When to talk to us

If you have BMI 30 or higher, or BMI 27 with comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension, you qualify for at least one type of obesity treatment. The longer obesity goes untreated, the harder sustained weight loss becomes — part biology, part metabolic adaptation, part the comorbidities themselves accumulating consequences.

The right clinic is the one that fits your case. Verify the credentials. Ask the follow-up questions. Get the pricing in writing before you book travel or surgery dates. We can answer all of those questions in writing, with the names of the surgeons, the hospitals, the procedures, and the USD prices.

Global Obesity Group — Medical Team

Bariatric surgeons Dr. Rubén Luna and Dr. Felipe Bernal (co-founders), Dra. Carolina Rodríguez (FACS), and obesity medicine director Dra. Paola Sánchez.

Comprehensive obesity clinic combining medical therapy, endoscopic procedures, laparoscopic and Da Vinci robotic bariatric surgery, and the proprietary Método 4 PRO non-surgical track.

Bogotá, Colombia · International patient program · SAGES · IFSO · FACS · ACOCIB · ACDC

Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Pricing reflects 2026 GOG international patient rates and is subject to clinical evaluation. Surgical and medical recommendations require an individualized evaluation by our medical team. Statistics and clinical outcomes referenced reflect published evidence and may vary by patient and procedure.