In four months, Charlie Walker has made a huge life change. He has gone from feeling depressed and sluggish to full of energy and active. He’s lost 66 pounds, dropping eight pant sizes in the process.

His weight loss was so significant, a couple of acquaintances didn’t recognize him.

Walker is the first patient to undergo a clinical trial in Bellevue of a new weight loss tool for patients who are overweight or obese, but often don’t qualify for more intensive weight loss tools than diet or exercise.

“Most of my patients have already tried (diet and exercise) multiple, multiple times. For one in 20, it works. But for the vast majority of people, it doesn’t provide sustained weight loss,” said Dr. Ross McMahon, who is using the ReShape Dual Balloons in his practice at Seattle Weight Loss in Bellevue.

Using a flexible tube inserted into a patient’s digestive tract called an endoscope, each balloon is inserted, inflated and filled with saline. Like gastric bypass surgery, it limits the size of the stomach and forces the patient to eat less, but still feel full.

Unlike gastric bypass, the procedure isn’t surgical and the balloons are only temporary. After around six months, the balloons are removed in a second outpatient procedure.

“It was a really straightforward procedure, which was great, because I didn’t want anything cut out of me,” Walker said.

The entire procedure takes around 15-20 minutes.

The ReShape dual balloons were approved by the FDA in September, and Walker had his balloon inserted in October.

The trial is focused on patients whose Body Mass Index are high (usually in the 30-40 range, meaning they are obese), but generally not high enough for them to qualify for gastric bypass surgery. For these patients, many of whom have struggled to lose weight long-term through diet and exercise, there are few other options, McMahon said.

The balloon, on the other hand, is a temporary solution that he said helps patients change their eating habits and lose weight, hopefully with long-term benefits. Data has shown that the majority of patients are able to keep the weight off or continue to lose weight, McMahon said.

“If I can prevent somebody from getting to the point of getting a gastric bypass, that’s a great thing,” he said.

For Walker, the balloon has helped him not only lose weight, but increase his energy and self-esteem and establish a healthier routine. He is nervous, he said, for the balloons to be removed in two months.

“Before, I’d get on the machine, lose 20 pounds, then gain it back, plus five pounds,” he said. “With this, you get the balloons and what you do with it is up to yourself … But, I’ve found that once you get a routine, you really want to do it.”

Overall, he’s said it’s been a wonderful experience.

“In the end, nothing ventured, nothing gained,” Walker said.

The ReShape balloons costs around $7,499 at McMahon’s clinic, and include 12 months of follow-up care, along with the insertion and removal.