A UK health expert has said that “potentially millions” of obese people could be helped by a new pill containing a gastric balloon.
Here’s the lowdown on the balloon procedure which leaves people feeling full without consuming as much food.
What is a gastric balloon?
A gastric balloon sits in the stomach and swells so people feel full without eating as much.
The concept is not new, but now a new pill containing the device is claiming to have helped obese people lose 2st in 16 weeks.
Unlike a gastric band, the Elipse pill does not require risky surgery.
It can be taken under the supervision of a medic, nutritionist or dietitian in a process that lasts just 15 minutes.
Patients swallow the pill with a glass of water, and once it hits the stomach, the balloon is filled with a pint of water through a tube.
The tube then detaches from the balloon and it pops after four months and passes out painlessly through the body.
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How can a gastric balloon help you lose weight?
The balloons reduce the free volume in the stomach and therefore constrict how much a person can eat before feeling full.
Experts have said the pill could be used to fight the UK’s obesity crisis, which raises risks of type 2 diabetes, heart and liver disease and cancers.
Professor Jason Halford, from the University of Liverpool, said: “Potentially millions could benefit.
“It is cost-effective. If the studies are there, it should be considered on the NHS.”
Dr Simon Cork, of Imperial College London, added: “A device which doesn’t require surgery is a positive step forward.”
How much do gastric balloons cost?
It is currently only available privately, but similar treatments are being investigated for use by the NHS.
And at £2,200 to £3,400, gastric balloons are about half the price of surgery.
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