Losing a significant amount of weight is no easy task. While it’s easy to say, “Eat less, eat better and move,” this isn’t easy with the typical American life which includes a focus on food and sedentary lifestyle spent commuting, working, and getting home late exhausted. Dieting often means a constant struggle with feeling hungry making it difficult to last more than a few weeks on the plan.

Bariatric surgeries, like those performed by Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding at NYU Langone Weight Management Program, have the primary goal of making it easier for patients to eat less by making them feel full and satisfied. These surgeries are options for overweight or obese people. For patients who could benefit from a loss of 40 or 50 pounds Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding is now performing a new procedure: the intragastric balloon.

Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding finds that the intragastric balloon is a viable option for many people who might not qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. The balloon is inserted by endoscopy into the top part of the stomach and enlarged with saline until it is about the size of a grapefruit. Because it takes up so much room the stomach sends a “full and satisfied” signal to the brain, says Dr. Ren-Fielding. This causes the patient to eat less while feeling satisfied. This outpatient surgery is done and the patient is sent home the same day. For a few days the patient experiences discomfort in the form of nausea and should sip liquids for those days until it passes. Once the body adjusts the patient does not experience discomfort.

The intragastric balloon is a first step for many overweight people who do not qualify for other surgeries, explains Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding, but it is not a quick fix. There are two important routines that must be kept up after surgery to have success. First, during the six months when the balloon is in place, patients should meet with the surgeon monthly to monitor progress. The second, which should last even after the balloon has been removed, is to make a habit of better food choices. Dr. Ren-Fielding advises patients to begin with a healthy protein, eat green vegetables each day, limit their carbs and added sugar and not drink regular soda. Getting into this habit early on can help the patient maintain or even continue losing weight once the balloon is removed by endoscopy six months later.

This procedure has been approved by the FDA for patients with a BMI of 30-40, especially when other risk factors are present like high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or diabetes. While newer to the United States, the balloon has been used in Europe, South America, and Australia for years.

Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding is excited to be performing this surgery along with Dr. Brad Schwack at NYU Langone Medical Center. They are helping patients get a jump start on a healthier lifestyle. To learn more about the intragastric balloon and other options for weight loss click here.