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 balloon, 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). Objective: To assess the effect of the intragastric balloon as an alternative method for weight loosing in obese patients. Methodology: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: The intragastric balloon showed to be an effective method for weight loosing in obese patients, with better outcomes in men than women.