The Nation : Warning Issued on Bubble

The gastric bubble remains experimental and should be used only in people whose obesity is life threatening, the American Medical Assn. said. In a published report, the AMA said 20,000 bubbles have been sold but the bubble has yet to be proved effective and may result in more complications than benefits. The manufacturer agreed with the AMA, and both said efforts are being made to restrict bubble use. The bubble, inflated in the stomach to curb appetite, spontaneously deflates in about 2% of the cases. It usually passes without harm, but 35 patients have required surgery and one woman has died, a manufacturer’s spokesman said.