Method of administering a self-foaming composition

A method for suppressing or reducing the appetite of a patient, the method comprising:

• orally administering to the patient a composition capable of being transformed into a hydrogel foam after its introduction into the patient stomach,
• wherein:
• the hydrogel foam occupies at least 20% of the volume of the patient stomach,
• the composition comprises:
• a hydrophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of polysaccharides, polysaccharide derivatives, and mixtures thereof;
• a compound (a) capable of crosslinking the hydrophilic polymer by forming ionic bonds, the compound (a) being selected from the group consisting of salts of divalent cations, salts of trivalent cations, and mixtures thereof;
• a foaming agent (b) selected from the group consisting of salts capable of decomposing into gas and into monovalent cations;
• and
• a foam stabilizer,
• the compound (a) has a water solubility of less than or equal to 0.5 g/L at 20° C. and a pH of from 6.5 to 7.5, and has a pKa of less than or equal to 7.