Effectiveness of Intragastric Balloon Treatment for Obese Patients: One-Year Follow-up After Balloon Removal

The Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) is effective for weight loss. However, comparisons of its effectiveness between groups with different body mass index (BMI) are rare. This study compared the effectiveness of BIB treatment in patients with BMI < 32 kg/m(2) and those with BMI a parts per thousand 32 kg/m(2) at the time of BIB removal and at 1 year later.
Between April 2009 and June 2011, 28 obese patients who completed a full course of BIB treatment were enrolled. There are 16 patients with BMI < 32 and 12 with BMI a parts per thousand 32. Patients who lost more than 20 % of excess weight (% EWL) were categorized as responders.
The BMI significantly fell from 32.4 +/- 3.7 to 28.5 +/- 3.7 kg/m(2) (P < 0.01) at the time of BIB removal. All biochemical measurements except for cholesterol level were significantly improved. The median value of %EWL of all patients at BIB removal was 40.1, and 20 patients (71.4 %) were responders. Adherence to dietitian counseling was significantly better in responders than in non-responders (85 vs. 25 %, respectively; P < 0.01). The percentage of responders at 1 year after BIB removal was significantly higher among patients with BMI < 32 than those with a parts per thousand 32 (62.5 vs. 16.7 %, respectively; P = 0.02).
BIB placement can achieve significant weight loss and improvement of co-morbidities in obese patients. Better adherence to dietitian counseling is associated with better response. Patients with BMI < 32 maintain better weight loss at 1 year after BIB removal.