One-Year Outcomes in a Supervised Program of Swallowable Intragastric Balloon—Analysis of 486 Patients in a High-Volume Bariatric Centre in Malaysia

The swallowable intragastric balloon (IGB) has recently emerged as a popular alternative for weight loss in Malaysia. It can reduce total body weight loss (TBWL) by 6–15%. We aim to observe positive weight loss up to a year after the swallowable IGB is implanted.

A total of 486 consecutive patients with overweight or obesity who underwent swallowable IGB insertion were included in this prospective data collection.

Out of 486 patients, 404 patients (83%) had complete data at the end of 4 and 12 months. Patients included in the study had a starting mean body mass index of 35.3 ± 7.2 kg/m² which decreased to 31.5 ± 5.7 kg/m² (p < 0.0001) at the end of 4 months and further reduced to 30.3 ± 5.4 kg/m² (p < 0.0001) at the end of 12 months. At 4 months, the overall average weight loss was 9.8 kg, meanwhile, at 12 months, the average weight loss increased to 12.9 kg. At 4 months, the average TBWL was 10.5%, while at the end of 1 year, the combined %TBWL increased to 13.7%.

Most weight loss is typically observed within the first 4 months following the procedure. However, it is important to note that patients can continue to experience ongoing weight loss for up to 1 year. The swallowable IGB is a safe and effective option for patients seeking weight loss solutions. It offers numerous advantages, especially its non-invasive procedureless nature, which makes it more appealing to individuals considering this treatment.