Obesity starts at 30 on the body-mass-index table. For a 5-foot-9 male, that’s 203 pounds. Some people with serious weight issues, unable to maintain a diet and exercise program, are eligible for a nonsurgical procedure that places a durable, soft-silicone gastric balloon in their stomach for six months. The balloon, called Orbera, trains the body to adapt to smaller, more healthful meal portion sizes. Patients can lose up to three times the amount of weight typically lost through diet and exercise.

Hartford Hospital was among the first in the Northeast to perform the procedure. Dr. Darren Tishler, director of the Surgical Weight Loss Center at the hospital’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss, says patients must remain motivated and committed to diet and exercise coaching to lose significant weight.

Q. WHAT IS ORBERA?
A.  The Orbera Intragastric Balloon System is a weight loss aid for adults suffering from obesity, with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 and ≤40 kg/m2, who have tried other weight loss programs, such as following supervised diet, exercise and behavior modification programs, but who were unable to lose weight and keep it off.

Q.  TELL US HOW THE ORBERA PROCEDURE WORKS?
A.   Orbera is a nonsurgical procedure done under a mild sedative, the thin and deflated ORBERA™ balloon is placed into the stomach. It is then filled with saline until it’s about the size of a grapefruit. The procedure typically takes about 20-30 minutes so patients can generally go home the very same day.

Once the balloon is in place, patients will receive diet and exercise coaching from a team of experts—which may include a dietitian, psychologist, and exercise physiologist—to help keep them motivated, provide advice, and help patients work through weight loss barriers to meet long-term weight loss goals. Coaching continues even after the balloon is removed at six months for a total of 12 months.

At six months, the balloon is removed in the same way it was placed. Through a non-surgical procedure done under a mild sedative, it is deflated first then removed.

Q.  YOU HAVE A NEW PLATFORM INVOLVING VIRTUAL TELEMEDICINE FOR NUTRITION AND LIFESTYLE COACHING SERVICES: HOW DOES THIS WORK?
A.   Yes, we are very excited to now offer our patients a new platform —  virtual telemedicine for nutrition and other lifestyle coaching services.  This will allow our nutritionists to work closely with patients in the comfort of their own home.  Rather than having to drive to an appointment, a nutritionist or life coach can work directly with the patient through mobile or tablet devices.  These adjunctive treatments and technologies are allowing us to further expand the services offered at our comprehensive multidisciplinary weight management program throughout Hartford HealthCare.

For information on monthly classes about weight-loss options, call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373).