Intragastric balloon for treatment-resistant obesity: safety, tolerance, and efficacy of 1-year balloon treatment followed by a 1-year balloon-free follow-up

For patients with treatment-resistant obesity, the intragastric balloon appeared to be safe but was not a treatment option in a fifth of patients. Although an independent benefit of balloon treatment beyond diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy could not be demonstrated in the first 3 months, balloon treatment for 1 year resulted in substantial weight loss, the greater part of which was maintained during the balloon-free second year.