www.healthierweight.co.uk A gastric balloon is ideal for patients with obesity problems who have tried many alternative ways to lose weight, but would prefer to avoid surgery. It is a balloon that is inserted into the stomach and inflated, thus reducing stomach capacity and the amount of food a person can comfortably eat. * What does it involve? There are several types of gastric balloon available. At Healthier Weight we use the most thoroughly researched and tested device – the BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB™). In what follows, we use the terms gastric balloon and BIB™ interchangeably. * Benefits of a Gastric Balloon The health benefits of the BIB™ are those associated with any method of weight loss, including an improvement in diabetes, hypertension (raised blood pressure) and sleep apnoea. There are also major improvements in mobility and self-esteem. *What are the risks? The procedure itself is simple, and serious complications are uncommon. Read about any reported complications in the scientific literature. *Is the Gastric Balloon suitable for me? If you have tried every diet and weight-loss programme without success, but would rather avoid conventional surgery, the gastric balloon may be the option for you.
