The present invention discloses a biodegradable self-inflating or self opening intragastric implant for curbing appetite, constructed from one or more discrete expandable, stretchable and/or deformable members. The expandable elements are adapted to expand in vivo when in contact with gastric juice for a predetermined period of time and/or heated to about 37?C. At least a portion of the expandable elements are shape memory members and/or orientation memory being in their deflated state ex vivo, and further being in their native inflated state in vivo when in contact with gastric juice for a predetermined period of time or heated to the in vivo body temperature.