The topic of weight loss is the subject of countless discussions — in the general media as well as among experts. Never is there a time when different diets are not compared with each other, and currently the so-called “weight loss injection” (Ozempic® and Wegovy®) is causing a furore. But even here there are reports of side effects and long-term studies are still pending.
It is hardly surprising that a technical rather than a pharmacological approach is tempting. Especially when no such drastic intervention as stomach reduction or intestinal shortening is necessary.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University have now developed a small vibrating device that is swallowed, then adheres to the stomach lining, where it stimulates the stomach wall for around half an hour and is finally excreted via the gastrointestinal tract. The mechanoreceptors of the stomach conclude that the stomach is full as a result of the stimulation, and the body reacts accordingly with a change in eating behaviour. The researchers demonstrated this in animal experiments on young pigs. There were no undesirable effects.
Our conclusion: All in all, an exciting idea, even if it is still a long way off…
You can find the original study here:
Srinivasan, Shriya S et al. A vibrating ingestible bioelectronic stimulator modulates gastric stretch receptors for illusory satiety. Science advances vol. 9,51 (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj3003