Bariatric surgery methods (stomach-reducing sleeve gastroplasty, sleeve gastrectomy, bypass surgeries) provide effective and sustainable weight loss. However, patients who do not want to undergo surgery or are not suitable for surgery prefer endoscopic methods. Effective results can be achieved in the endoscopic gastric balloon application, which is the most preferred method among the methods performed endoscopically, that is, by entering through the mouth. In this method, an endoscope is entered through the patient's mouth, a balloon is inflated and placed in the stomach, and the balloon is raised to a certain volume. In this way, by placing a volume-occupying substance in the stomach, the total stomach volume is reduced and at the same time the movement of the stomach is impaired. Thus, patients' appetite decreases and their eating capacity decreases. Since it is difficult for patients to digest after eating, the portions of patients are reduced and the number of meals is increased. Another advantage is that it is a reversible method. In other words, if the patient is not satisfied with the procedure for any reason, the gastric balloon can be easily removed again. Nowadays, there are gastric balloons that can stay for 6 months to 1 year.

In the historical development of the gastric balloon, it was used as a bridge treatment for patients with a body mass index over 40, patients who definitely required surgery but had a high surgical risk, and patients with low general condition. Later, due to its advantages, it became an alternative to bariatric surgery in some special patient groups. According to the World Health Organization, those with a body mass index over 30 are considered obese. Endoscopic gastric balloon is performed directly on obesity patients with a body mass index over 35. It is applied to patients with a body mass index over 30 and if they have accompanying diseases. Obesity treatment is recommended, especially if there are accompanying diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea and blood pressure. In patients who are morbidly obese and have surgery planned but have a very high risk of surgery, a gastric balloon is inserted into the patient as a bridge treatment and the patient falls below a certain weight threshold. Pulmonary functions and cardiac functions improve. The risk of anesthesia is reduced. Then it becomes ready for surgery. Once the patient is fit for surgery, the balloon is removed and surgery is performed. In summary, endoscopic obesity treatments are appropriate for patients who are obese, have comorbidities that cannot be controlled, and patients who need to be prepared for surgery.

Since endoscopic gastric balloon application, which is an invasive procedure, does not involve a surgical procedure, patients stay in the hospital for a very short time.
Surgical operations are irreversible. Endoscopic gastric balloon application is a reversible procedure. In case of possible complications, the balloon in the stomach is easily removed. Once the balloon is removed from the stomach within 6-8 months, the stomach returns to its previous state.
There is no change in the functioning of the digestive system organs during the gastric balloon procedure.
It is a lower cost procedure than surgery.