Balloon in a pill hailed as obesity conqueror

BRITAIN: Millions of Britons could lose more than 12 kilograms by taking a pill described as a ‘‘gastric band in a tablet’’, a study suggests.

The results, unveiled at the world’s largest obesity conference, showed the pill can be an effective alternative to weight-loss surgery.

Experts said the National Health Service should now consider funding the pills, with more than one in four people across the country classified as obese.

After the pill is swallowed, a balloon swells up in the stomach when it is filled with water, restricting the amount of calories a person can ingest.

The study of 42 adults found that they lost 13kg on average after four months.

The pill is licensed for use, but not yet available on the NHS. It costs about £3000 (NZ$5600) privately – about half the price of stomach stapling.

Researchers from the University of Rome said the balloon technique could be used widely and bring ‘‘significant cost savings’’ to health services in the long run.

The research, presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Porto, found that patients who were given the pill lost an average of 16kg – over 14 per cent of their total body weight.

They also saw significant improvements in their health. The ease of the technique, which avoids anaesthetics and surgery, meant it could be popular among failed dieters, researchers said.

The balloon is inside a pill which is attached to a thin tube, meaning the balloon can be filled with about half a litre of water after the pill is swallowed. The tube then detaches and is removed. The expanded balloon fills the stomach, making the patient feel full and restricting their food intake. – Telegraph Group