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Intragastric Balloon Treatment for Obesity: Review of Recent Studies

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Abstract

Introduction

The FDA recently approved three intragastric balloon (IGB) devices, ReShape, ORBERA™, and Obalon for treatment of obesity. Given the high cost, complication risk, and invasiveness of bariatric surgery, IGB treatment may present a safer and lower cost option for weight reduction. IGBs are generally placed in the stomach endoscopically for up to 6 months to reduce gastric capacity, enhance feelings of fullness, and induce weight loss. The mechanism of action likely involves stimulation of gastric mechanoreceptors triggering short-acting vagal signals to brain regions implicated in satiety. Balloon efficacy may be influenced by balloon volume, patient gastric capacity, and treatment duration.

Methods

This review focused on eight recent (2006–present) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing percentage total body weight loss (%TBWL) between IGB and control groups including three reviewed by the FDA. %TBWL based on the reviewed studies was also compared with bariatric surgery and pharmacotherapy.

Results

Of the eight IGB studies, five had balloon treatment duration of 6 months. Efficacy at 6 months, based on a pooled weighted-mean %TBWL, was 9.7%, and the control-subtracted %TBWL was 5.6%. When one study without SDs was removed, the weighted mean %TBWL was 9.3 ± 5.7% SD, and control-subtracted %TBWL was 5.5 ± 7.8%, which was statistically greater than controls. IGB showed lower efficacy than bariatric surgery (median weight loss of 27% for Rouen-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). The control-subtracted %TBWL over 6 months of 5.5–5.6% is less than the most efficacious FDA-approved weight loss drug, Qsymia. At the recommended dose, Qsymia has a placebo-subtracted %TBWL at 6 months of approximately 6.6%. The weighted mean reported incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) in the IGB group across all eight studies was 10.5%. Only six of the eight reviewed studies reported adverse events (AEs) in the IGB group, with a pooled reported incidence of 28.2%. Recently, the FDA reported new AEs including acute pancreatitis with ReShape and ORBERA™.

Conclusion

Based on the available evidence, it is unlikely that IGB use will supplant other forms of obesity treatment. The estimated cost of endoscopic balloon implantation and retrieval is US $8,150. Collectively, a relatively small control-subtracted %TBWL and the potential for serious complications makes IGB unlikely to become widely adopted. Given the recent FDA warning, IGB longevity on the market is questionable.

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Acknowledgements

This review was supported in part by the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA grants R01 DK080153 (AG). No funding or sponsorship was received for the publication of this article. All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval for the version to be published. A special thank you to Jenna Koroly, BA, for assisting with the completion of this article.

Disclosures

Chinara M. Tate has nothing to disclose. Allan Geliebter is a scientific advisor to Gelesis (Boston, MA), a company involved in developing obesity and diabetes treatments. He was a scientific advisor in 2003-5 to Fulfillium (Foster, CA), a company engaged in developing a gastric balloon, and received shares in the company, which is no longer active.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

This article is based on previously conducted studies and does not involve any new studies of human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai St. Luke’s, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Chinara M. Tate & Allan Geliebter

  2. Department of Psychology, Touro College and University System, New York, NY, USA

    Allan Geliebter

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  1. Chinara M. Tate
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Correspondence to Chinara M. Tate.

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Tate, C.M., Geliebter, A. Intragastric Balloon Treatment for Obesity: Review of Recent Studies. Adv Ther 34, 1859–1875 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-017-0562-3

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