Patients in the National Health Service are being administered a novel kind of weight-loss tablet that includes a gastric balloon that is swallowed and then filled with water.
The goal of the 15-minute treatment, which has been authorized by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), is to encourage people to eat less by making them feel fuller.
After 16 weeks, data indicates that individuals who use the gadget shed 10 to 15 percent of their body weight on average.
The manufacturer of the medication, Allurion, stated that since the treatment’s approval in 2020, it has been in discussions with NHS trusts over its implementation.
The first two NHS patients are currently receiving care at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s Musgrove Park Hospital. Unlike some other gastric balloons, the pill can be inserted without the need for anesthesia, endoscopy, or surgery.
The patient swallows the balloon, which is placed inside a capsule, and during a 15-minute consultation with the doctor, a small tube is used to fill it with water.
550ml of water is inserted into the balloon once an X-ray verifies that it is positioned correctly in the stomach. The balloon is then checked to make sure it is full and positioned correctly in the stomach with a second X-ray. Next, the tube is taken out.
A time-activated release valve allows the water-filled balloon to spontaneously empty and transit through the gastrointestinal tract after around four months.
According to data, after therapy, 95% of the weight that was reduced was maintained. Allurion offers a lifestyle and nutrition program to assist customers stay on track.
Up to twelve more NHS patients are planned for treatment, and three more are slated for treatment in early February.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer this new treatment, a first for the NHS, that offers clinically meaningful weight loss as part of a holistic programme involving dietary support and care,” said Professor Richard Welbourn, consultant bariatric surgeon at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
“People who are extremely obese have a higher risk of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes, which can be prevented by losing weight.”The Allurion balloon is an outpatient operation that takes 15 minutes and is ingested. As a result, patients have a far better experience and the NHS benefits more because there is no need for an endoscopy, hospital bed, theater time, or anesthesia.
“We anticipate that in four months, patients utilizing the program will shed ten to fifteen percent of their body weight, leading to an enhanced quality of life and healthier patients.”
