Abu Dhabi Week finds out more about a new weight loss treatment on offer at Harley Street Medical Centre – the gastric balloon
The prevalence of obesity in most countries has been increasing markedly over the past two to three decades. Obese people have a high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer.
Often obese people find non-surgical treatments, such as dieting or taking medication, are not effective and do not work for them. Surgical options including the sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and gastric band are currently accepted as the only approach that offer long-lasting success. However, many people are afraid to take the serious step of having surgery or else they don’t meet the criteria to be able to have the procedure. For those people the gastric balloon is an effective alternative.
What is a gastric balloon?
It’s a soft silicone balloon that is inserted into the stomach via the mouth, using an instrument called an endoscope. It’s a day care procedure, which means that the patient only has to come in for six to eight hours. The actual procedure only takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
The balloon stays in for up to six months before it is removed the same way it’s inserted.
How does it work?
The balloon is partially filled with saline and this creates a feeling of being full. Because the patient feels full they reduce their intake of food and this obviously leads to weight loss.
Who would benefit from this procedure?
It is most suitable for obese or overweight people who have a body mass index of more than 27kg/m2. It is not suitable for pregnant people or those suffering from kidney failure or gastric ulcers.
How much weight should one expect to lose using a gastric balloon?
This depends on many factors including how well the patient adapts to the balloon and how they alter their eating pattern afterwards. A realistic aim is to lose one kilo per week, over a six-month period that would amount to a total weight loss of ten to 25kg.
For more information contact: 02 613 3999
Catriona Doherty
Food for thought
Concerned about her health and not getting satisfactory results from dieting, Blaire Fulton decided to have a gastric balloon inserted three weeks ago. So far she has lost five kilos.
“I was clinically obese and had tried numerous diets but always put the weight and more back on again,” Fulton said. “My weight was creeping up and I felt that I was too big to go to the gym. My health was starting to suffer and I was at risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Fulton investigated a number of weight-loss procedures on offer in Abu Dhabi and Dubai before deciding the gastric balloon was the most suitable for her.
“I had my check-up in Abu Dhabi and the procedure in Dubai. You can choose what type of pain relief to use; I asked to be put to sleep. The doctor inserted a drip in my hand and gave me medication to help me sleep and that was it really.”
After the procedure Fulton felt discomfort, she said: “In the first few days I felt nauseous and had gastric pain. I was told that everyone reacts differently and some people don’t have any pain at all.
“In the first week after the procedure I followed a liquid diet and drank water, protein shakes and soups. In the second week I had a blended diet and ate cereal, mashed potatoes and soft foods. By the end of the second week I could eat anything. My appetite has definitely reduced as my stomach can only take in so much food.”
