Weight loss gastric pill launched

A new weight loss gastric balloon pill has been launched in the UK.
The pill – called Obalon – does not require surgery, like other gastric balloon treatments. Instead, it is a ten-minute procedure during which the patient swallows a pill – the size of a vitamin supplement – which contains the deflated balloon.
Once the capsule – which is attached to a micro-catheter – arrives in the stomach, the balloon is inflated to the size of an apple. The capsule then dissolves and the catheter is removed through the mouth.
The balloon then sits on top of the stomach to make its users think they are full, meaning they eat less and lose weight. 
Patients have the option of receiving a second balloon 30 days later and also a third one, depending on how they are feeling. Each balloon remains in the stomach for up to 12 weeks.
This treatment costs from £2,995 and is available from some private clinics. It is recommended for people who have a BMI of 27 or more. 
Spire consultant Sally Norton, who has been monitoring Obalon over the last few years, said: “It has minimal side effects, is quick and easy to place and is really well-tolerated.”

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