Scientists Say This is a More Effective Method to Reduce Body Weight Than Drugs, Diet, and Exercise

A breakthrough treatment for overweight and obesity has emerged, offering a safe and effective weight loss solution. The innovative approach combines the use of a procedure less swallowable gastric balloon, known as the Allurion Balloon or Elipse, with the widely prescribed anti-obesity drug liraglutide.

Presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Dublin, Ireland, the international multi-center study led by Dr. Roberta Ienca and colleagues from the Nuova Villa Claudia Clinic in Rome, Italy, builds upon previous successful trials of the Allurion Balloon. This unique gastric balloon, encased in a vegan capsule, can be swallowed without the need for surgery, endoscopy, or anesthesia. After approximately 16 weeks, it passes naturally out of the body.

Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) sold under the brand name Saxenda, has already demonstrated effectiveness in combating obesity and type 2 diabetes. It functions by promoting feelings of fullness (satiety) and suppressing appetite.

The current study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining the Allurion Balloon with liraglutide. A total of 181 patients (145 women and 36 men) with an average age of 44 years, an average pre-treatment weight of 94.8 kg, and an average initial body mass index (BMI) of 33.7 kg/m2 participated in the research. The patients received treatment at three renowned multidisciplinary obesity centers located in Italy, Spain, and Egypt.

After being ingested, the balloon is inflated with fluids in the stomach. The whole placement procedure takes no more than 20 minutes and may be done during a routine doctor’s appointment. Patients typically keep the balloon in place for 16 weeks (range: 15-17 weeks). The body then gets rid of it on its own.

Between weeks 4 and 16 following balloon placement, liraglutide, taken once daily, was introduced to enhance weight loss and maximize results, ultimately aiming to increase patient satisfaction. All 181 patients included in the study received liraglutide. The decision to add liraglutide was primarily motivated by various factors: inadequate weight loss (53%), reduction of the balloon’s satiety-inducing effects (29%), further augmentation of successful weight loss (16%), and diabetes control in patients who had achieved satisfactory weight loss (2%).

After undergoing 16 weeks of balloon treatment, participants experienced substantial progress, with an average weight loss of 13kg and a reduction of 14% in their initial body weight—significantly exceeding the clinically meaningful weight loss threshold of 5-10%. Furthermore, on average, they shed 74% of excess weight (calculated based on a reference normal BMI of 25 kg/m2) and witnessed a reduction of 4.5kg/m2 in their BMI. It is important to note that as patients commenced their liraglutide treatment prior to balloon excretion, these initial results include the early impact of liraglutide in most cases.

Upon the balloon’s natural passage from the body, patients were transitioned to a Mediterranean diet for weight maintenance and were monitored for a minimum of 6 months.

After the completion of liraglutide treatment (with an average duration of four months), participants experienced significant weight loss. On average, they lost 18kg and 19% of their initial body weight. Furthermore, they managed to shed 99% of their excess weight and achieved a reduction of 5.9kg/m2 in their BMI.

Throughout the treatment period, no serious adverse events were reported. Any balloon-related adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, were effectively managed with medication. However, in some cases, the balloon had to be removed due to intolerance, gastric dilation, or early deflation.

Regarding liraglutide-related adverse events, participants experienced mild symptoms. Nausea was the most commonly reported side effect (16.5%), followed by diarrhea (3.3%), constipation (2.2%), and headache (1.7%). Overall, only four participants discontinued drug therapy due to tachycardia/chest pain or gastrointestinal symptoms.

The authors point out that, although more effective than drugs, diet, and exercise, intragastric balloon uptake has been limited due to the need for endoscopy for placement.

“These two treatment approaches appear to have complementary mechanisms of action in a geographically and demographically diverse population,” adds Dr. Ienca. “The Allurion Program delivers excellent weight loss in individuals with overweight and obesity without going under the knife, and liraglutide has the potential to further safely enhance weight loss in case of suboptimal adherence with the programme and for patients that are aiming to further boost the results of treatment.

“The ease of use, low rate of adverse events, and potentially lower cost of the Allurion Program could enable much wider application of this critical intervention and, ultimately, help the millions who struggle with obesity and its associated health complications.”

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