The fight against obesity seems to be a losing one for many people who have nothing but diet and exercise to fall back upon. Sometimes, extreme measures must be taken, and those suffering from being massively overweight have resorted to stomach-based surgery in their efforts to slim down. The gastric bypass and gastric band have both received much attention for their effectiveness in helping individuals lose large amounts of weight. However, both procedures are still highly invasive and carry a fair amount of risk, especially in the case of the gastric bypass, which counts fatalities among those who undergo it every year. Weight loss doctors, eager to provide an alternative that mimicks the effects of gastric surgery without the attendant dangers, now offer their patients the option to use a device known as a gastric balloon.

The gastric balloon is a thin, inflatable silicone device that takes up space in the patient’s stomach, reducing one’s overall eating capacity and triggering the sensations of fullness sooner during a meal. Eventually, the patient becomes used to eating smaller portions to achieve the same level of satisfaction. In conjunction with a reasonable diet, one can lose a significant amount of weight over a period of several months.

The gastric balloon device is inserted down a patient’s throat using an endoscopic instrument and lodged in the stomach in a deflated state. It is then inflated with an external catheter, filled with either air or a saline solution. The insertion itself takes as little as ten minutes to complete, and once the doctor has determined that the device is positioned properly, the patient can go home within the hour. The device remains in the stomach for about six months, and then it is deflated and removed endoscopically. The entire procedure is virtually painless and does not require anesthesia.

This procedure is generally considered to be safe, with very few attendant risks, and certainly none of the concerns associated with surgery of the internal organs. It must be noted, however, that the stomach is still susceptible to irritation from the device, being a foreign object, and as such, instances of acid reflux, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting may occur.

After the device is inserted, the patient will spend the next few days getting used to the presence of the gastric balloon, which requires a gradual re-introduction of edible substances while the body adjusts. The patient will only be able to drink water in small sips a few hours after the procedure. This will be followed by liquids low in sugar and thin soups for the next three days. Eventually, the patient will be able to consume semi-solids, and finally solid food, in accordance with the instructions of the physician. Strenuous physical activity is discouraged for about a week after the procedure.

It is important to emphasize that the gastric balloon may well be an effective method of losing weight, but it does not function in a vacuum. A person with this device inserted cannot simply eat anything he or she wants, but must observe a steady low-calorie diet in conjunction with the reduced eating capacity. After all, smaller portions of high-calorie fatty foods will still have a detrimental impact on the body.

The gastric balloon procedure is also not recommended for everyone. Anyone undergoing treatment for any stomach-related illness, a patient with a history of substance abuse or any chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, or a person who may have undergone stomach surgery in the past, should all consider alternative weight loss options that do not require insertion of objects into or manipulation of the stomach or digestive tract.