Is Orbera Safe for Me?
Are you interested in the Orbera® balloon weight loss system, but wonder if it’s safe? In this blog, we explain how Orbera works and highlight the many reasons why it’s both safe and effective.
Help! I'm Struggling to Lose Weight
If you’re trying to lose weight, you’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 49.1% of Americans try to lose weight each year.
From feeling good about the way you look and feel in your clothes to improving your overall health, there are many reasons why so many Americans embark on a weight loss journey. Losing weight — even just 5-10% of your total body weight — can reduce the risks of obesity-related complications.
Regardless of your motivation for losing weight, it’s not always easy. If you’ve changed your diet and are exercising but just can’t seem to lose weight, we can help.
Gastroenterologist Eric Ibegbu, MD, and our team at Atlantic Medical Group offer nonsurgical weight loss solutions to help you reach your health and wellness goals.
Below, we highlight your weight loss options at our Kinston and Jacksonville, North Carolina, offices.
Losing weight without major surgery
Weight loss surgery can help you lose significant weight, but surgery isn’t right for everyone. At Atlantic Medical Group, Dr. Ibegbu offers several nonsurgical weight loss options:
Obalon® Balloon System
Obalon® is a three-balloon system for weight loss. Once in place, the balloons take up space in your stomach so you feel fuller faster.
The FDA-approved treatment has been shown to help people lose up to twice as much weight when compared to diet and exercise alone. The balloons stay in place for six months, but even when we remove them, you can keep the weight off with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet.
Because the balloons are contained in a swallowable capsule, there’s no need for general anesthesia or sedation.
Orbera®
Orbera is a gastric balloon made of silicone that we insert into your stomach via a quick procedure — no incisions needed. The Orbera balloon is inflated to the size of a grapefruit, which then limits the amount of food you eat during your meals.
Unlike Obalon, Orbera isn’t a swallowable balloon, but it can help you lose three times as much weight when compared to diet and exercise alone. As with Obalon, Orbera stays in place for about six months.
AspireAssist®
AspireAssist is a minimally invasive procedure that helps you lose weight by reducing the number of calories your body absorbs. During a 15-minute procedure, Dr. Ibegbu places a thin tube in your stomach, which allows up to 30% of the food to be emptied from your stomach.
AspireAssist is an FDA-approved device, and it’s easily reversible. According to the product literature, AspireAssist has helped some patients lose up to 100 pounds in a 12-month period.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)
Like AspireAssist, ESG is another minimally invasive, outpatient nonsurgical weight loss procedure. ESG works by reducing the size of your stomach by up to 80% through the strategic placement of sutures. Because this is performed endoscopically, there’s no need for stitches.
How to know if you need to lose weight
Not sure if you need to lose weight? Calculating your healthy weight isn’t just based on the number on the scale. We look at your body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is factored using your height and weight, and your number can reveal if you’re overweight, underweight, or obese.
What your BMI means:
- Less than 18.5, underweight
- 18.5-24.9, normal weight
- 25-29.9, overweight
- 30-plus, obese
If you’re overweight or obese, it’s a good idea to start implementing healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercising more or adjusting your diet.
Take the next step toward wellness
As a gastroenterologist and bariatric medicine specialist, Dr. Ibegbu knows that your weight loss journey is a lifelong journey toward overall wellness. Maintaining a healthy weight can help you reduce your chances of developing obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
We know losing weight can be hard, and trying to find solutions that work can feel overwhelming. Know that you’re never alone on your journey. Dr. Ibegbu excels at matching the right weight loss procedure with each patient.
If you’re ready to take control of your weight loss journey, visit our website to schedule your consultation.
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