Unfortuantely, for those in the UK with access to the Obalon Balloon—the FDA has yet to approve it in the states—there are some potential side effects to this weight loss shortcut, says Josh Davenport, MD, from Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco. Irritation or erosion from the pill rubbing against the stomach wall; potential obstruction between the stomach and the intestinal tract, which can be fatal if there is a food blockage; severe vomiting; and malnutrition are all possibilities, says Dr. Davenport.
From a nutritional perspective, this isn't likely to be a permanent fix for weight loss, as no long-term studies have been conducted on whether the pill is safe for use after the short-term, says Michelle Davenport, PhD, RD, director of nutrition for the health food delivery app Zesty. "In other words," she says, "it's possible that continued use could produce a dependency on the pill for satiety, or that 'full feeling,' and we'd lose the ability to self-manage our satiety after it's removed."
Stomach restriction, whether it's from a balloon or bariatric surgery, doesn't exempt you from weight gain. "I've seen first-hand people who have still managed to gain weight on the lap-band with high-calorie drinks and low-volume, high-calorie foods," she says. Which means the best strategy for weight loss still stands: permanent lifestyle changes you can sustain in the long run.
You can get that "full feeling" naturally with filling, healthy foods, such as these high-fiber winners from our Cleanest Packaged Food Awards.
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