Why it's done

The placement of an intragastric balloon helps you lose weight. Weight loss can lower your risk of potentially serious weight-related health problems, such as:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Heart disease or stroke
• High blood pressure
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
• Type 2 diabetes

Intragastric balloon placement and other weight-loss procedures or surgeries are typically done only after you've tried to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.

Who it's for

An intragastric balloon may be an option for you if:

• Your body mass index (BMI) is between 30 and 40
• You're willing to commit to healthy lifestyle changes, get regular medical follow-up and participate in behavioral therapy
• You have not had any previous stomach or esophageal surgery

Intragastric balloons aren't the right choice for everyone who is overweight. A screening process will help your doctor see if the procedure might be beneficial for you.

At this time, the cost for placing and removing the intragastric balloon may not be covered by health insurance, and would therefore be an out-of-pocket expense.