Everyone knows that losing weight is hard, but it may be harder than you've ever imagined. The latest research shows that after being overweight for a certain amount of time, it may be nearly impossible to get back to a healthy weight and maintain that weight with diet and exercise alone. If you're obese, you may need medical intervention in order to reach your target weight and maintain it – not because you lack willpower or drive, but simply because your body won't allow you to lose weight as easily as someone who has never been obese. Does that mean that your only choice is invasive surgery, like gastric bypass? That is one option, but there are others that aren't so invasive. Take a look at some of the non-invasive weight loss options that you may want to consider.

Medications

There are many over-the-counter and prescription medications on the market for weight loss, but many of them are stimulants that can leave you feeling jittery and restless, or appetite suppressants that lose their effectiveness after awhile. However, there's a new kind of drug on the market that's showing real promise.

Some weight loss experts believe that obesity has a biological cause, like a hormone imbalance – the same kind of hormone imbalance that you might see in a diabetes patient, for example. That's why it may not be that surprising that one of the latest drugs on the market showing promise in the weight loss field started out as a diabetes drug. Doctors say that it mimics a hormone secreted by your intestines that's purpose is to regulate your blood sugar and slows down the process of emptying your stomach. The result is that you feel full faster and can eat less. However, the drug does carry a risk of rare, but severe side effects, and it's not appropriate for every patient.

Bariatric Arterial Embolization

Another new technique that is being used for weight loss has its roots in a procedure that's been used for treating heart and uterine conditions for years. Bariatric arterial embolization, or BAE, is an outpatient procedure that involves inserting a catheter into the patient's wrist or groin, and inserting microscopic beads through that catheter to a specific spot in the stomach. The beads block the blood supply to the part of the stomach where ghrelin, the body's "hunger hormone," is produced.

With less blood flow to the area, patients report an 80% decrease in feelings of hunger. During a pilot trial of the treatment, doctors reported a 6% weight loss after a month, and a 13% weight loss after six months. Patients also receive a comprehensive weight management program that promotes a healthier lifestyle and eating habits.

Weight Loss Balloons

One more non-surgical weight loss option is the gastric balloon. This is as simple as swallowing a pill – only inside the pill, a small balloon is released once the capsule around it dissolves. The balloon is filled up with gas or a saline solution through a catheter, and then the balloon remains in the patient's stomach for several months. Depending on the type of balloon, it may then be removed endoscopically, or it may deflate and dissolve on its own and be naturally excreted.

The function of the balloons is to partially fill the stomach so that it's not as easy to eat as much food. Patients get into the habit of better portion control during the months when they have the balloons in their stomach, which should make it easier to eat smaller portions later, once the balloons are removed. A study of one weight-loss balloon showed that patients lost about 6.8% of their weight on average.

If you need to lose weight, but you can't do it on your own, don't be afraid to ask your doctor for help. There are many options out there for patients who need help losing weight, and one of them may be the key for you. For more information, visit a clinic like Belly Balloon Texas.

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