Inflatable gastric balloon in the fight against obesity
The swallowable gastric balloon is a new treatment method for obese people. But what is it actually, what exactly does it do and who is eligible for it?
According to the CBS, more than 50 percent of the Dutch population is overweight. A bad thing, because being overweight causes many health problems – certainly in the longer term. The latest remedy in the fight against obesity is the inflatable gastric balloon.
The swallowable gastric balloon: what is it?
The swallowable gastric balloon is a gastric balloon that you swallow as a capsule – comparable in size to a suppository – and which unfolds in the stomach. The capsule is attached to a thread and via that thread the gastric balloon is filled with liquid. The gastric balloon expands and the patient thus gets the feeling of being ‘full’. The gastric balloon remains in the stomach for about 16 weeks. It then empties on its own and leaves the body through the faeces. The patient does not notice this.
Will I not be operated on?
No, you do not need to undergo surgery to place the swallowable gastric balloon. You swallow the balloon – in the form of a capsule – yourself, after which the doctor fills the balloon via the thread. The entire procedure takes only 20 minutes.
Does the swallowable gastric balloon have any side effects?
Most patients resume their daily activities about three days after insertion of the swallowable gastric balloon. The patient may feel nauseous or experience mild pain in the first few days after placement. In very rare cases, the gastric balloon has to be surgically removed.
Do you lose weight automatically with the swallowable gastric balloon?
The swallowable gastric balloon provides a weight loss of 10 to 15 percent. However, you can only achieve that result if you also adjust your eating and exercise pattern. This is also the disadvantage of the swallowable gastric balloon: a period of 16 weeks is relatively short to get used to a new lifestyle. Treatment with the swallowable gastric balloon is therefore accompanied by intensive supervision, so that there is a greater chance that the patient will actually change his lifestyle permanently.
Who is the swallowable gastric balloon intended for?
Treatment with the swallowable gastric balloon is intended for people with a BMI of 27 or higher. In addition, a screening will take place. You must be at least 18 years old, not pregnant, have not had gastric/intestinal surgery and it is important that you can swallow normally.
Is the swallowable gastric balloon often used?
Last year, the Dutch Obesity Clinic placed the swallowable gastric balloon in 300 patients. The clinic expects that there will be about 750 in 2020. Internationally, many thousands of people have been treated.
Is the swallowable gastric balloon reimbursed by my health insurer?
No, the swallowable gastric balloon is not reimbursed by the Dutch health insurers. The gastric balloon costs more than 4,000 euros.
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