Move over bariatric surgery, a minimally invasive gut liner sleep could now do the job to help a personlose weight as well or may be even better.
It is also known to have a comparable effect on controlling lifestyle related health problems such as diabetes.
This device works by the insertion of a plastic sleeve into the intestine to line the gut, and to prevent the absorption of food, thereby making the person lose weight.
This weight loss device is minimally invasive and non-surgically or endoscopically inserted, and therefore may be a more attractive option for those who want tolose weight.
Clinical studies performed recently have been able to demonstrate the efficacy of the EndoBarrier® Gastrointestinal Liner in getting people to lose weight and also help with ailments such as type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic factors.
The study examined the effect of the EndoBarrier on individuals with a BMI of over 30 who had tried but failed to achieve weight loss with lifestyle alteration and other traditional methods of weight loss such as medications.
In the study, the effects of the implantation of the device was observed – subjects were assessed on parameters such as insulin, glucose, as well as gastrointestinal hormones, i.e. gut peptides glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) and meal tolerance.
The benefits that were seen to come as a result of the Endo Barrier device were seen to be on par with other weight loss interventions such as the gastric bypass surgery.
Reportedly the benefits of inserting/implanting the device were –
- Weight loss of about 44 pounds
- Lowered levels of glucose
- Lowered levels of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)
- The metabolic functions of cholesterol, insulin, and triglycerides were seen to normalize within one year
- Blood pressure was also seen to be lowered
According to Dr. Lee Kaplan, director of the Weight Center at Mass. General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, the effects of this device similar to gastric bypass in several ways – it makes a person eat less and hence helps them to lose weight.
It is also possible that the device offers a routinely overtaxed pancreas some respite and hence a chance to regenerate. This is a benefit that could spill over and help future generations as well – controlled diabetes for the mother could also eliminate or at least reduce risk of the child developing diabetes.
