A method of treating metabolic disease includes applying stress to a portion of the gastrointestinal tract of a patient diagnosed with metabolic disease to treat the metabolic disease. A metabolic disease treatment device includes a surface that is shaped to a portion of the gastrointestinal tract that is adapted to apply stress to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract. A control causes the surface to apply stress intermittently to the portion of the gastrointestinal tract in a manner that treats the metabolic disease without causing substantial loss of body mass.