Gastric emptying of solids in morbid obesity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of weight loss induced by dietetic treatment, with or without an intragastric balloon, on gastric emptying of obese subjects.


METHODS
20 morbidly obese subjects (21-54 years, 45.3-58.0 kg/m2) and 20 healthy controls (21-56 years, 20.3-24.8 kg/m2).


METHODS
Parallel study of a 4 month, low calorie dietetic treatment with or without a 500 ml intragastric balloon.


RESULTS
In basal conditions, obese subjects had accelerated gastric emptying as compared to healthy controls. At the end of the dietetic treatment period, a significant decrease of body weight was obtained. Patients also showed a slowing of gastric emptying. Both the weight loss and the slowing of gastric emptying occurred irrespective of the presence or absence of the intragastric balloon.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings are compatible with the hypothesis that gastric emptying, food intake and body weight are integrated parameters in subjects with morbid obesity.
Tosetti
C
C
Institute of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, University of Bologna, Italy.
Corinaldesi
R
R
Stanghellini
V
V
Pasquali
R
R
Corbelli
C
C
Zoccoli
G
G
Di Febo
G
G
Monetti
N
N
Barbara
L
L
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D015905:Gastric Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015431:Weight Loss