*Obesity and overweight affect 85% of the population in the United States

This permanent weight loss surgery reduces the size of the stomach by 80 to 85 percent. The remaining portion of the stomach is shaped like a tube or sleeve. By restricting the size of the stomach, the patient feels fuller faster and consequently does not need to eat as much. The procedure also reduces the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger, called Ghrelin.

Gastric bypass surgery relies on two surgical approaches to help patients achieve significant weight loss. The first of them reduces the size of the stomach to limit caloric intake, much like a gastric bypass. The second procedure reorganizes the intestine so that the body absorbs less digested food and fewer calories, which further helps with weight loss.

The gastric balloon is a high quality silicone balloon with a safety valve system. It is introduced endoscopically into the patient's stomach to partially fill it and reduce its capacity. With this method, reduced capacity leads to satiety by slowing the passage of food from the stomach to the intestines. This restrictive method is the same one used by the surgical gastric band. But without anesthesia, pain or abdominal scars.