Doctors testing a ‘balloon’ pill for weight-loss

Doctors at 15 medical centres around the United States are testing new pill that, once swallowed, is pumped full of nitrogen gas to inflate a balloon in the stomach to make patients feel fuller faster and eat less. — Fotolia

She's 16kg overweight and has tried everything, but when that patient goes to see George Eid, a bariatric surgeon, he usually has to tell her she’s not heavy enough for weight-loss surgery.

Soon, though, there may be a new option for that overweight patient who doesn’t need to lose 45kg, but maybe a third of that – to jump start a weight-loss programme, perhaps, or prepare for a surgical procedure.