Intragastric balloon reduces food intake and body weight in rats.

To test a less invasive method than gastric surgery for treating obesity, balloons were nonsurgically inserted in the stomachs of adult rats (mean wt = 537 g) for 8 wk. One group received balloons that were inflated with 7 ml of water, a second group had balloons inserted that were deflated, and a third group had no balloons inserted. Rats with inflated balloons ingested 27% less food (P less than 0.0005) during the 8 wk and weighted 16% less (P less than 0.05) at the end of this period than rats with deflated balloons or no balloons. Their food intake was significantly depressed through the 7th wk. The stomachs of the rats with inflated balloons were significantly heavier than the others with a thicker muscularis externa. Body composition was not significantly different among groups. A chronic intragastric balloon significantly reduced food intake and body weight.