"The proportion of Chinese adults who are overweight is about 40%, and the proportion of obese people is about 10%." Recently, at a forum on diagnosis and treatment of diabetes and metabolic diseases held in Beijing, Zhang Zhongtao, vice president of Beijing Friendship Hospital, listed a group of figures about obese people. So, what are some new ways to 'lose weight' when it comes to obesity?
In December last year, monitoring data released by the National Health Commission showed that the overweight and obesity rates of urban and rural residents of all age groups in China continue to rise, with over half of adult residents being overweight or obese.
What are the new methods for weight loss currently? It is reported that on February 25th, the first swallowable intragastric balloon implantation surgery led by Zhang Zhongtao in China was successfully completed, marking the launch of a multicenter clinical trial of intragastric balloon implantation led by Beijing Friendship Hospital in China. As of now, more than half of them have joined the group, and it is expected to be completed around October this year.
In the experiment, participants were required to swallow an intragastric balloon pre compressed in a capsule. The balloon is connected to the infusion catheter. By swallowing, the balloon is fed into the stomach, while the other end of the catheter remains outside the body. After the capsule enters the stomach, it quickly dissolves, and then physiological saline is injected into the balloon through the outer end of the catheter. After filling, the catheter separates from the balloon, and the balloon self sealing valve closes. The filled balloon occupies the space in the stomach, completing the balloon insertion process.
Zhang Zhongtao introduced that based on the preliminary results of the follow-up of the subjects who had completed the effective endpoint, the weight loss effect was relatively obvious. More than 70% of the subjects achieved the preset goal of losing more than 5% of their body weight. The balloon disintegrated in the body on schedule, and the balloon debris was smoothly and naturally discharged without serious adverse reactions.
He explained that the appearance of intragastric balloons does not necessarily mean that weight loss surgery is no longer necessary. Balloon weight loss and weight loss surgery have different indications. Weight loss surgery is mainly suitable for patients with moderate to severe pathological obesity, while balloon weight loss is more suitable for overweight and mildly obese individuals, and the two complement each other.
It is reported that compared to weight loss surgery, which involves "subtraction" of the stomach, intragastric balloons occupy the stomach through "addition", reducing the effective volume of the gastric cavity and reducing food intake. The intragastric balloon can achieve automatic disintegration after 4-6 months, and the remnants of the balloon can be naturally discharged through the intestine without causing gastrointestinal obstruction.
Zhang Zhongtao explained that current clinical research suggests that at 4-6 months, the maximum weight loss of the balloon can be achieved. If it is longer than 6 months, it may cause a certain degree of gastric ulcer or gastric injury.
