But in reality, more and more patients report a disappointing experience and far from guaranteed weight loss.
guillementI felt a constant pressure in my stomach, like something was stuck.”
“At first, I found it very promising, we have an appointment with a nutritionist to discuss the procedure and review our diet, a connected scale accompanied by an application to track weight loss and body fat percentages, etc., in short, a well-crafted practice, says Manon (not her real name), who wanted to lose a few pounds after her pregnancy. After that, the step is to swallow a pill that is supposed to turn into a balloon in the stomach, thus creating a feeling of satiety, except that this pill is huge and it was impossible for me to swallow it alone, so they had to help me with a tube, which was already not very reassuring. In the process, I felt a constant pressure in my stomach, as if something was stuck, accompanied by a feeling of seasickness that nailed me to the bed. It was really horrible! If I lost weight quickly at the beginning, it was only because of the intense nausea. Once the nausea passed, I did not feel any decrease in my appetite. In reality, I did not see any effect on my hunger, which was nevertheless the main goal of this method”.
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Lack of information
An experiment that represents a cost of more than 4,000 euros, not reimbursed by social security, knowing that the filled balloon remains in place for 16 weeks. If the firm assumes its commercial strategy, it also recalls that the balloon has been validated by the health authorities and “that in general, side effects are short-lived and will last less than three days“.
In our country, the device is starting to gain ground. At this stage, it has been available for a year and a half in two clinics located in Charleroi and Ninove. But its interest is far from unanimous. So much so that in France, the health authorities have decided to suspend its marketing. And this in order to “protecting the health and safety of patients”said the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM), which ordered the suspension.
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According to the ANSM, serious side effects have been reported, such as intestinal obstructions or gastric perforations. In Belgium, experts from the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AFMPS) assure that they are “evaluating the information received from the French authority” and indicate that no incidents have been reported to date. “There is currently no indication that the product poses problems in Belgium that would justify a mandatory market withdrawal in the interest of public health.the agency reports. The FAMHP continues to monitor the situation and is also in contact with the competent authorities of the other Member States on this matter.”
This news is a reminder that the best advice to follow before starting a diet is to surround yourself with a nutritionist, a specialist doctor and to be wary of announcements.
