Electric Shock Therapy for Obesity
Electric shock is the latest therapy that is hoped will become a treatment for obesity.
A device is implanted close to the nerves in the wall of the stomach. This device gives out electrical pulses that slow down the action of peristalsis - the rythmical muscle contractions that push the food through the digestive system. Because peristalsis is slowed down, the patient feels fuller for a longer period of time. In addition to slowing down the rate of peristalis, the device reduces the size of the sphincters at the entrance and exit of the stomach, again slowing down the rate of passage of the food.
In trials, patients lost about a quarter of their excess body weight over a two year period. The operation is less invasive than gastric banding, although the results so far do not appear as impressive as those obtained with gastric banding. It remains to be seen if this operation wilol become part of mainstream medicine.
The device itself was invented by an Italian doctor, Dr Valerio Cigaina, and it is hoped that it will help to train obese people to eat less food and help with their weight loss. The device is now being marketed by Transneuronix, a company based in the US.