Italian researchers have observed that the placement of a gastric balloon to swallow accompanied by the drug liraglutide could promote weight loss in patients with overweight or obesity.
- The Allurion Gastric Balloon is folded into a vegan capsule and clears naturally from the body within 16 weeks.
- An Italian study combined the Allurion gastric balloon and an anti-obesity drug to promote weight loss in overweight patients.
- Thanks to this association, the researchers found an average loss of 18 kg in the participants.
The combination of a swallowable gastric balloon and the drug liraglutide could become a new therapeutic avenue to promote weight loss in patients suffering from overweight or obesity, according to a recent Italian study. These results were presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO)in Dublin (Ireland).
Gastric balloon and anti-obesity drug: the combination that promotes weight loss
As part of the study, the researchers recruited 181 overweight or obese patients, who were treated at three international multidisciplinary obesity treatment centers in Italy, Spain and Egypt. Before treatment, their average weight was 94.8 kg and their average baseline body mass index (BMI) was 33.7 kg/m2.
During this research, scientists observed the effectiveness of the Allurion Gastric Balloon, which is folded into a vegan capsule to be swallowed and naturally eliminated from the body within 16 weeks, combined with the liraglutide, a commonly prescribed drug for weight loss. Approximately four to sixteen weeks after balloon placement, the volunteers took the treatment once daily to enhance weight loss.
An average loss of 18 kg at the end of the treatment
According to the results, the participants lost an average of 13 kg and 14% of their initial body weight after 16 weeks of treatment with the gastric balloon. Scientists found a 74% loss of excess weight and a reduction in body mass index (BMI) of 4.5 kg/m2. “As the patients started their liraglutide treatment before the balloon was excreted, these early results include the early effects of liraglutide in most cases.”however, the study authors noted.
When the balloon was cleared from the body, the volunteers followed a Mediterranean diet for at least 6 months. At the end of liraglutide treatment, which is around four months, participants lost an average of 18 kg and 19% of their initial body weight. In addition, they lost an average of 99% of their excess weight and reduced their BMI by 5.9 kg/m2.
“The Allurion program provides excellent weight loss in overweight and obese people without surgery, and liraglutide has the potential to further enhance weight loss safely when adhered to under -optimal to the program and for patients who wish to further improve treatment results”concluded Dr. Roberta Ienca, lead author of the study and nutritionist physician at the Nuova Villa Claudia clinic, in Rome, (Italy).
