Outcomes with Intra-gastric Balloon Therapy in BMI < 35 Non-morbid Obesity: 10-Year Follow-Up Study of an RCT

Intra-gastric balloon (IGB) therapy is the most established endoscopic treatment of obesity, but there is a paucity of literature on long-term efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the short- and long-term weight loss efficacy of IGB.

Double-blinded RCT with 6-month IGB vs with sham endoscopy, in body mass index (BMI) 27–35 patients. Anthropometric, fasting glucose, and lipid profile measurement as early outcomes (up to 2 years) and 10-year follow-up. Primary outcomes were total body weight loss (kg) and BMI. Secondary outcomes were new-onset diabetes mellitus, other new comorbidities, and willingness for further intervention.

Initial RCT recruited 99 patients (50 IGB vs 49 sibutramine group). Forty-nine patients (26 IGB vs 23 control group) participated in a 10-year review (follow-up rate of 51.6%). Total body weight loss at 6 (9.75 vs 7.48 kg, p = 0.03), 12 (6.52 vs 4.42 kg, p = 0.05), 18 (5.42 vs 3.57, p = 0.32), and 24 months (4.07 vs 2.93 kg, p = 0.56) favored the IGB group. Total weight loss (TWL) at 10 years (0.03 vs − 2.32 kg, p = 0.05) and %TWL (− 0.16 ± 12.8% vs − 2.84 ± 5.6%, p = 0.39) were not significantly different between groups. Follow-up BMI (30.97 ± 1.6 vs 30.38 ± 1.8 kg/m², p = 1.00) was similar. At 10 years, new-onset diabetes mellitus, sleep apnoea, metabolic syndrome, and arthralgia were not significant (p > 0.05). Twenty-three (81%) IGB group vs 13 (56%) control expressed a willingness for further intervention (p < 0.01).

IGB delivers weight loss to 2 years and is superior to control. However, new comorbidity development is not significantly different at 10 years. Patient that received IGB therapy were subsequently more willing for further bariatric metabolic intervention.