The Department of Health (DOH) has approved the use of an intragastric balloon treatment, giving new hope in the fight against obesity.
The treatment consists of inserting a soft, expandable balloon made of a pliable silicone material into the stomach through a tube in the mouth.
Once inside the stomach, the balloon is immediately filled with a sterile saline solution through a small catheter. The catheter is then removed.
The balloon floats in the stomach and gives the patient a feeling of partial fullness, thus reducing appetite. After six months, the patient returns to have the balloon removed.
Liao Chi-chou (
Hsiao Tun-jen (蕭敦仁), the doctor who introduced the intragastric balloon treatment to Taiwan in cooperation with Min Shen General Hospital in Taoyuan City, says the treatment has proven its effectiveness in helping obese patients lose weight.
Between August last year and August this year, Hsiao and the hospital conducted clinical trials on 12 patients suffering from morbid obesity or for whom other treatments for obesity had proven ineffective.
According to their test results, the treatment helped the patients lose an average of 12 percent of their total body weight.
Hsiao said the treatment offers an alternative to patients who may be wary of undergoing surgery.
He added that the side effects of the treatment, including, nausea, acid reflux and mild pain in the upper stomach, can be controlled with medication.
Furthermore, he said, the treatment is reversible, so patients who find they cannot live with the device can have the balloon removed without any ill effects.
Although the DOH has approved the intragastric balloon treatment for certain categories of obese patients, the treatment is not covered by the national health insurance scheme. Therefore patients opting for the treatment will have to cover the full cost, to the tune of approximately NT$120,000.
PROCEDURE: Although there is already a cross-strait agreement in place for the extradition of criminals, ample notice is meant to be given to the other side first Ten Taiwanese who were involved in fraud-related crimes in China were extradited back to Taiwan via Kinmen County on Wednesday, four of whom are convicted fraudsters in Taiwan. The 10 people arrived via a ferry operating between Xiamen and Kinmen, also known as the “small three links.” The Kinmen County Prosecutors’ Office yesterday said that four of the 10 extradited people were convicted in Taiwan for committing fraud and contravening the Money Laundering Control Act (洗錢防制法), and were on the wanted list. They were immediately arrested upon arrival and sent to Kinmen Prison to serve their sentences following brief questioning, the office said.
Taipei and Kaohsiung have extended an open invitation to Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki after Chinese authorities abruptly canceled her scheduled concert in Shanghai. Hamasaki, 47, had been slated to perform on Saturday before organizers pulled the show at the last minute, citing “force majeure,” a move widely viewed as retaliation for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could draw a military response from Tokyo. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) yesterday said the city “very much welcomes” Hamasaki’s return and would continue to “surprise” her. Hamasaki, who has a large global fan base, including
‘REGRETTABLE’: Travelers reported that Seoul’s online arrival card system lists Taiwan as ‘China (Taiwan),’ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday urged South Korea to correct the way Taiwan is listed in its newly launched e-Arrival card system, saying the current designation downgrades the nation’s status. South Korea rolled out the online system on Feb. 24 to gradually replace paper arrival cards, which it plans to phase out by next year. Travelers must complete the electronic form up to 72 hours before entering the country. The ministry said it has received multiple complaints from Taiwanese travelers saying that the system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in dropdown menus for both “place of departure” and “next
VIGILANT: Enterovirus activity remains in the epidemic phase, with the CDC urging caregivers of infected children to be on the lookout for signs of severe illness Influenza activity is rising in neighboring countries, and, with temperatures forecast to drop this week, flu cases are expected to increase in the next two weeks, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. Hospitals reported 87,162 visits for flu-like illnesses between Nov. 23 and Saturday, which remained about the same level as the previous week, but nine deaths and 24 cases with serious flu complications were also confirmed last week, CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center Director Guo Hung-wei (郭宏偉) said. Flu activity reached a peak in late September before declining for eight consecutive weeks, CDC Deputy Director-General and spokesman Lin Min-cheng (林明誠)
RSS