Tue 29 June 2021:
New Zealand researchers have created “world-first weight loss device” against global obesity, but it is the stuff of horrors for many on social media.
The device, dubbed DentalSlim Diet Control, uses magnetic devices fitted to the top and bottom rear teeth to restrict people from opening their mouth any wider than 2mm.
The setting up of the new device is done by a dentist who fits magnets and locks bolts to the patient’s upper and lower molars. This allows the jaw to open only for two millimetres that restricts the patient from eating any solid food.
Otago and UK researchers have developed a world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic: an intra-oral device that restricts a person to a liquid diet. Read more: https://t.co/eLhXwipiqs pic.twitter.com/Of6v3uvVbX
— University of Otago (@otago) June 28, 2021
“When the patient bites together the magnets engage and that limits jaw movement,” says University of Otago Health Sciences Professor, Paul Brunton.
The Dental Slim Diet Control creates a two millimetre gap between the teeth, meaning the person using it can only ingest liquids for a period of two weeks.
“It’s functionally quite comfortable so you don’t feel like your jaws in a steel trap,” says Brunton.
It’s taken more than five years and four prototypes for researchers to get to this stage but the first clinical trial has been a huge success.
“The device was worn by seven patients who lost on average about six kilograms over the two week period which equates to about five per cent of their body weight,” Brunton says.
After getting this device, the patient is forced to consume only fluids and the patient can only breathe, speak and drink after applying this device.
This device is a “non-invasive, reversible, economical and attractive alternative to surgical procedures,” explained Lead researcher Paul Brunton, from the University of Otago’s school of health sciences.
The Dental Slim Diet Control creates a two millimetre gap between the teeth. Source: 1 NEWS
The device has been tried by seven women in the present month who lost an average of 6.36kg (14lbs) each within two weeks of trial.
“After 24 hours, the participants indicated that they occasionally felt embarrassed, self-conscious and that life, in general, was less satisfying,” a report from the researchers read. “Nevertheless, all the participants got accustomed to the device during the treatment period and were able to work effectively in their usual employment.”
However, one woman did it to melting chocolate and consuming fizzy drinks while using the device.
Researchers believe this device is a “world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic”.
The device, however, has also faced huge criticism on social media as people believe this device is a method of torture, rather than weight loss. Some users also linked it to the method of contraption to jaw wiring of the 80s.
However, researchers have argued that the device has been approved by an ethics committee.
