Background: Most of the weight loss with the BioEnterics intragastric balloon (BIB) has occurred during the first 3-4 months. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of initial weight loss on long-term weight maintenance.
Methods: From 2008 to 2011, 50 patients who had mean body mass index (BMI) of 44.7 ± 12.4 kg/m(2) underwent BIB therapy for 6 months. All patients were given a diet of 1,100 kcal/day. Weight loss parameters [absolute weight loss, BMI loss, percentage of body weight loss (BWL%), and percentage of excess BMI loss] were recorded at the baseline, 1 month, 6 months (time of BIB removal), 12 months, and 18 months from the baseline. Successful weight loss was defined as ≥ 10 % weight loss after 6, 12, and 18 months.
Results: Twenty-seven patients (54 %) achieved a percentage of BWL ≥ 10 at the time of removal. Eighteen (36 %) and 12 (24 %) patients were able to maintain weight loss of 10 % at 12 and 18 months. Percentage of BWL after 1 month was positively correlated with BWL% after 6, 12, and 18 months (r = 0.77, 0.65, and 0.62, p < 0.001, respectively). Twenty-four patients who lost 5 % of the BWL after 1 month of treatment succeeded in maintaining a lasting percentage of BWL ≥ 10 after the BIB removal: more precisely, this cutoff point was achieved in 96 % at the time of removal and in 71 %, 50 % at 12 months, and 18 months of follow-up.
Conclusions: Five percent BWL after 1 month of treatment may be a predictor for long-term weight maintenance.