[Effect of intragastric balloon as an alternative method for weight loosing in obese patients]

Obesity has increased worldwide affecting people of all ages and accounting for a severe public health problem. There exist several treatment options for obesity: dietary, pharmacological, physical exercising, psychotherapy, and surgical. Placement of the so-called intragastric ballonn, a silicone device similar to a 600-mL sphere, has been proposed, indicated for patients with a body mass index higher than 30 kg/m(2).

To assess the effect of the intragastric balloon as an alternative method for weight loosing in obese patients.

Longitudinal, experimental, descriptive, and exploring study. The sample includes 40 obese patients. Anthropometrical measurements including weight, height, abdominal circumference, tricipital and subscapular folds were done; the body mass index (BMI), muscle surface area and fat a surface area were calculated at baseline, first, third and sixth months after balloon placement.

The sample comprised 31 women (77.5%) y 9 men (22.5%). The mean age for women was 35.87 years, and for men 44.67 years. At the end of the study, there was a total mean weight reduction of 18.25 kg, BMI 5.95 kg/m(2), abdominal circumference 13.53 cm, and arm circumference 4.14 cm, in both genders; the decrease in anthropometrical measurements was higher in men than women.

The intragastric balloon showed to be an effective method for weight loosing in obese patients, with better outcomes in men than women.