GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF SOLIDS IN MORBID-OBESITY

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of weight loss induced by dietetic t reatment, with or without an intragastric balloon, on gastric emptying of obese subjects. SUBJECTS : 20 morbidly obese subjects (21-54 years , 45.3-58.0 kg/m(2)) and 20 healthy controls (21-56 years, 20.3-24.8 k g/m(2)). DESIGN: Parallel study of a 4 month, low calorie dietetic tre atment with or without a 500 ml intragastric balloon. RESULTS: In basa l conditions, obese subjects had accelerated gastric emptying as compa red to healthy controls. At the end of the dietetic treatment period, a significant decrease of body weight was obtained. Patients also show ed 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. CONCLUSION: The present findings are comp atible with the hypothesis that gastric emptying. food intake and body weight are integrated parameters in subjects with morbid obesity.