This new treatment may make 'obese eat less'

Health experts say more than 640 million people globally have obesity (defined as a BMI of more than 30)

People suffering from obesity can now heaved a sigh of relief, as a new treatment swallowing gas-filled balloons that will enable them to eat less might be coming their way.

Lead researcher Shelby Sullivan, MD and director of bariatric endoscopy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, said new balloon system could help patients lose almost twice as much weight compared with lifestyle changes alone, adding this is very important because weight loss is very difficult and a significant number of people are not successful in achieving their weight loss goals with diet changes and exercise.

According to public health experts, more than 640 million people globally have obesity (defined as a BMI of more than 30), and there are more people considered overweight than normal or underweight in the world.

Researchers found that within the Obalon balloon treatment group, the average loss of total body weight was 6.81%, while the control group's average weight loss was 3.59%.

Dr. Sullivan and her team also found that 64.3% of individuals who received the Obalon balloon achieved at least a five per cent total body weight loss, compared to only 32% of the control group. Individuals in the Obalon balloon treatment group experienced improvements in their systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

The study is presented in the meeting of Digestive Disease Week.