Scientists create pill that could help weight loss - without giving up junk food

02 January 2024 , 13:24

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Developed by American engineers, it’s said to be the easiest way to treat obesity (Image: S.Srinivasan/G.Traverso/MIT/SWNS)

A cheap and “transformative” pill could help you lose weight easily, according to scientists.

Developed by American engineers, it’s said to be the easiest way to treat obesity. The vibrating pill works by sending signals to the brain telling you that you’re full - so you stop eating more. By using the body’s own system, it could replace other forms of losing weight, such as surgery, exercise or dieting.

Researchers found in animals that were given the pill, 20 minutes before eating, that it reduced their food intake by 40 per cent. Assistant Professor Shriya Srinivasan, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), said: "For somebody who wants to lose weight or control their appetite, it could be taken before each meal."

The capsule is the size of a multivitamin, and reduces levels of hunger-promoting hormones. When the pill, which is powered by a small silver oxide battery, reaches the stomach, the gelatinous outer coating is dissolved. This completes the electronic circuit that activates the vibrating motor.

Associate professor Giovanni Traverso said: "The behavioural change is profound, and that's using the endogenous system rather than any exogenous therapeutic. We have the potential to overcome some of the challenges and costs associated with delivery of biologic drugs by modulating the enteric nervous system."

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No need to give up beer and burgers to lose weight with this capsule (Getty Images)

The current version of the pill is designed to vibrate for about 30 minutes. In the animal studies, the pills passed through the digestive tract within four or five days. It is also said to be cost-effective compared to other treatments for obesity.

This isn't the first time new drugs to combat weight loss have come out. A breakthrough drug that can help obese patients lose 15% of their body weight is now available on the NHS.

A weekly injection of Wegovy could slash risk of conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Wegovy is a brand name for the drug semaglutide. It is also known as Ozempic when used at a lower dose for type 2 diabetes. It suppresses appetite by mimicking a hormone released after eating.

Manufacturer Novo Nordisk said the drug’s UK launch was “limited” due to high global demand. Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “I think it’s wonderful that it’s now available but it has got to be very tightly controlled. People should not be abusing it who don’t need it.”

Dr Stephen Lawrence, of Warwick University, said there were also socioeconomic and psychological factors to obesity. He said: “The issue of obesity is not just a pharmacological one.” NICE said the drug should go to the most obese patients, with at least one linked health problem.

Zesha Saleem