Yahoo Lifestyle Obalon weight loss pill launched in the UK
Image courtesy of Obalon
Obese Brits who don't qualify for weight loss surgery have been delivered new hope in the form of a capsule which transforms into a gastric balloon when swallowed
Other gastric balloons and weight loss surgery involve invasive procedures but this sedation-free treatment from Obalon takes only 10-15 minutes and is as simple as swallowing a pill.
The capsule is attached to a micro-catheter and, once consumed, the pill releases a gastric balloon into the stomach. It is then inflated with gas to the size of an apple (see below), via the tiny tube, and it floats in the stomach to give a feeling of satiety or fullness.
Image courtesy of Obalon.com
Obalon is considered a short-term option for weight loss and it's marketed at those with a body mass index (BMI) of 27 or above. Typically, treatment spans a 12 week period, where one or two more balloons can be inserted into the stomach every thirty days.
After three months, the balloon(s) is removed during a short endoscopic procedure.
One patient, Helene Fleckney, 43, from Shenley in Hertfordshire, said: "Obalon has proved an easy and quick treatment to help me lose weight. I'm not even fully through the treatment process yet and I've already lost a stone.
"I'm looking forward to eating more healthily, doing more exercise and ensuring my weight loss struggles are a thing of the past."
The pill doesn't come cheap - it retails for the equivalent of AUD$5604 - and it's not yet available in Australia, where 14 million of us are overweight or obese. This ranks us as one of the fattest nations in the world.
According to the Monash Obesity and Diabetes Institute, obesity has become the single biggest threat to public health in Australia and, if weight gain continues at current levels, by 2025, close to 80% of all Australian adults and a third of all children will also be overweight or obese.
