There are no definitive statistics on obesity in Belize, but ask any
doctor or nutritionist, and they’ll tell you it’s on the rise –
even in children. And while we’ve shown you how diet and exercise can
generate weight loss and create overall fitness, it’s not that easy for
everyone. Some who have battled obesity for decades may have metabolic resistance
to weight loss or may be so obese that exercise is not an option. Some choose
drastic measures like the irreversible gastric bypass surgery. But that’s
not available in Belize and can result in life threatening complications. But
for those who find weight loss hopeless, I found out on Monday that there is
a new procedure being performed in Belize that offers the obese a genuine chance
for life changing weight loss. Two days ago I met with the third patient to
undergo the medical procedure that sort of like putting a balloon in your belly
– here’s more.
Jennie Staine, Patient
“Well I am totally determined and before getting here I was talked
to and was told all the things I have to do and I am 100% into it and its going
to be a new life for me.”
Forty one year old Jennie Staine is the third patient in Belize to undergo
a procedure that will not only minimize the amount of food she eats but reduce
her body fat considerably - something she has been trying to do on her own without
success since she was eighteen:
Jennie Staine,
“I guess it is because of the dieting and then you go back to do your
normal thing and you gain the weight again so it is a rollercoaster of battling
with weight.”
The procedure is called bio-enteric introgastric balloon placement or BIB.
The patient swallows the balloon which is wrapped in a tubular latex material
like this. It’s not easy to swallow and there is some discomfort but the
uneasy feeling doesn’t last long. Once it’s anchored in the top
portion of the stomach the balloon is inflated with a saline solution which 
doesn’t allow the patient to consume any major particles of food. So if
Jennie decides to cheat and she eats more than what the stomach can accommodate
her body will reject it and she will vomit.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel, Endoscopist - Healhtcare Partners Ltd
“The beauty about this is that it is totally reversible. If the patient
says after three months or after a day, you know what I don’t want this
take it away,’ I can remove it easier than I placed it. So that is the
beauty about it. Gastric banding however is irreversible and in many instances
fatal.”
The only side effects Jennie may feel is a slight cramping as her stomach gets
used to the foreign object. Dr. Gabourel says it is rare for the balloon to
burst and if it does the dye in the saline solution will send out the warning.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“The saline solution is mixed with a dye which will allow us and the
patient to be aware if that balloon has burst because then the patient starts
peeing blue. That hardly happens, in fact I have never heard of a case where 
the balloon burst because it is made of a silicone material.”
Presently the procedure which is recommended for patients who are over eighteen
is presently only offered at Belize Healthcare Partners and performed by gastroenterologist
and endoscopist Dr. Irvin Gabourel.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“You have to be careful who you go to, to have this done because it
may look easy, you know and as you know guys will appreciate there, when done
by people who have experience with it, it is technically very easy. So what
we do is we offer the patient a package and that package includes nutritionist’s
evaluation, a physiatrist’s evaluation, lab works’ evaluation and
of course the placement and eventually removal of the balloon by myself.”
As explained by Dr. Gabourel the procedure which is reversible is one of the 
safest options available for those persons who have tried to lose weight but
had a difficult time achieving their normal body weight.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“Whether it be because you find comfort in eating food, you know a
lot of people are under stress and they binge on food than; that is a way how
they manage their stress. Some people have low self-esteem and they eat and
they find comfort in eating and then it does create pleasure, that’s one
of the pleasurable things in life.”
But being overweight can lead to all kinds of medical ailments like what happened
to Jennie Staine.
Jennie Staine,
“And now at 41 with my type of work I really need to lose weight because
my knees, both have surgery already from problems arthritis and stuff and my
weight is not helping so I guess now this is the time when I will finally lose
some weight.”
However the procedure is only one part of an entire package that Jennie will
need to do to help her reach her ideal weight she must also exercise and maintain
a good diet. Jennie presently weighs two hundred and thirty one pounds, she
would like to lose seventy six pounds.
Jacqueline Godwin,
You’ve been prepped, prepared for this procedure. How nervous are you
right now?
Jennie Staine,
“I am not nervous, I am in good hands.”
As Dr. Gabourel gets Jennie ready for the BIB, he relaxes her because she will
first need to be fully sedated as Dr. Gabourel does an endoscopy to make sure
his patient’s stomach is ready for the main procedure.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“We go all the way to the third portion of the duodenum to check that
there is no blockages and no abnormalities and we check the top portion of the stomach to make sure that there are not hernias. We are going to wake her up
now.”
Jennie Staine has passed her first test she is now ready for the bio-enteric
introgastric balloon placement.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel Speaking Janine
“So remember the second portion, we will wake you up totally and then
when you’re fully awake I will make you swallow the tube, it is very easy.
I will have to use my finger and put it here, so please don’t bite my
finger because I only have two.”
The procedure only lasts half an hour and then Jennie Staine will be discharged 
from the hospital and then sent home to start her new life.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“This is the balloon in the greater curvature of the stomach. This
is the balloon folded and here the balloon has already been insufflated with
saline solution and you can see it is occupying the top portion of the stomach
and that will obstruct the package of any food or abundant liquids into the
stomach.”
In about one month Jennie Staine should see a drastic reduction in her weight.
The balloon will remain inside of her stomach for at least six months but after
that she will need to exercise and stay on a good diet to maintain her normal
body weight. Of course with all patients, there is always the risk of thinking
he or she can lose the weight, take out the balloon and then put it in again.
But Dr. Gabourel warns that it’s expensive and that kind of rapid weight
fluctuation can have quite the opposite effect on the patient.
Dr. Irvin Gabourel,
“The balloon can be put in as much as nay amount of time but that
is the point. We are trying to reduce obesity. In fact people, if they are not
careful, and if they don’t go into this diet modification, what will happen
is they will have a rebound effect, they will start eating and then it is like
the drug addict who was away or the alcoholic who was away from the substance
and then all of a sudden they encounter the substance after being away from
it, and you tend to overdose yourself. No difference here, you will then not
binging but gluttony will take over.”
Of course in a month’s time 7News will check back with Jennie Staine
to see how she is doing with her weight loss, exercise and diet. Reporting for
7News Jacqueline Godwin.
The entire package can costs between five to seven thousand dollars
and while it is not covered by insurance in Belize, Belize Health Care Partners
does offer a payment plan to patients.
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