For many patients, losing weight and maintaining the weight in its healthy range without the dreaded yo-yo effect is a long and winding road, one that too often ends in a sense of failure and frustration.

For more than 30 years I have been working as a specialist in Endocrinology and Nutrition in Galicia and thousands of overweight or obese patients have passed through my practiceto varying degrees. I often perceive in them a skeptical attitude regarding the possible results that they will obtain if I propose to follow a hypocaloric diet without more. The most common argument is usually something like this: “Doctor, I have already undergone many diets; I have spent half my life following some and I can hardly lose a few kilos, which I recover as soon as I neglect myself … What I have worse is the feeling of hunger, the prohibition of certain foods that I love, the frustration of spending so much sacrifice and not being noticed on the scale or in the mirror “. Repeated failure often causes them to feel low self-esteem and skepticism.

However, this situation changes drastically when, once the clinical history has been analyzed and possible contraindications have been ruled out, I propose to the patient to follow a weight loss program that begins with the placement of an Elipse gastric balloon . The excellent results that I have been obtaining have convinced me to incorporate it as a tool for the weight loss program and acquisition of healthy eating habits that we offer. Let’s look at some of the reasons:

Why do I propose this ball?

The Elipse balloon does not require sedation or endoscopy for its placement and this means reducing medical risks and economic costs for our patients. The procedure could not be simpler and faster: the balloon is folded in a capsule attached to a very fine catheter. The patient swallows the capsule with my help, until it reaches the stomach. Its correct placement is verified by means of an X-ray; We then proceed to fill the balloon through the fine catheter. Having verified its correct filling and placement, we remove the catheter with a slight pull, which is not annoying for the patient and that’s it ! In less than half an hour the balloon is placed and filled and begins to perform its satiating function.

The device will be active between 12 and 16 weeks. At that time, the balloon begins to open spontaneously, releasing its liquid content. Once deflated, the balloon degrades and is eliminated in faeces without the patient having the slightest discomfort.

Why is it the first step?

It is very important that the patient believes placed ball ellipse is very clear that is t rat means and never a magic bullet. In other words: The balloon is certainly effective, but it does not solve the problem by itself, but should serve to help the patient to acquire new habits of eating and healthy life in a stable way, taking advantage of the real and objective feeling of satiety that produces the device while it is inflated in your stomach. But if the patient does not immediately follow a program meticulously developed by an expert and multidisciplinary professional team, he could regain the lost weight after a while. This is the reason why I have formed in my practice a team of professionals who accompany the patient throughout the process and phases of the program; the follow-up must be in person. This takes time and work on everyone’s part, but my experience tells me that if this is not done, failure is quite likely.

How much weight can a patient lose?

This is the good news. It is really easy for the patient to achieve a weight loss of about 15 kg. in those 4 months without much effort ; some even manage to lose even more. The satiating sensation produced by the balloon helps the patient to limit himself to the adequate amounts of food to lose weight; In addition, it helps very effectively to eliminate the craving for snacking as it significantly reduces the feeling of hunger. All this makes it possible to approach food reeducation with a really positive and confident attitude on the part of the patient. Continuous monitoring allows me to monitor possible deviations from the plan and quickly correct those negative elements that could reappear and jeopardize the fulfillment of the long-term objective.

And after that?

The first weeks after the removal of the balloon are essential to establish the definitive integration of the incorporated eating habits . Therefore, the weight loss continues and the re-education process continues and the patient no longer has to struggle as before with the feeling of defeat in the face of the uncontrollable sensation of hunger and anxiety . He has incorporated a greater variety of foods, he has learned to balance the nutrients he needs and to savor his recipes, establishing a healthy relationship with food. You like yourself and raise your self-esteem and regain your confidence that you will be able to maintain a stable weight.