Weight loss device by sucking food from the stomach

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new device that can suck food out of a person's stomach after each meal.

The AspireAssist helps suck food out of the stomach. Photo: The AspireAssist.

According to CNBC, the AspireAssist device is for obese people aged 22 and older who have not been able to lose weight through other methods, except cosmetic surgery. This device is developed by the company Aspire Bariatrics in Pennsylvania, USA.

The device consists of a pump attached to a soft rubber tube that is implanted into the patient's stomach. The rubber tube is connected to a disc-shaped valve that lies vertically under the patient's skin. About 20 to 30 minutes after a meal, the patient can open the valve and suck the amount of food equivalent to about 30% of the calories consumed directly into the toilet.

The FDA reviewed the results of a clinical trial of 111 people who used the device along with lifestyle changes (e.g., diet, stress management, and regular exercise), and compared them to a group of 60 people who made lifestyle changes without using the device. The group using AspireAssist lost an average of 12.1% of their body weight after one year, compared to 3.6% in the control group.

"AspireAssist provides an effective way to control calorie intake, a key component of weight management therapy," said William Maisel, M.D., deputy director for science in the FDA's Center for Devices for Radiological Health. "Patients need regular monitoring and healthy lifestyle changes to develop healthier eating habits and reduce calorie intake."

However, the FDA also warns of some side effects such as indigestion, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Inserting or removing the rubber tube can also cause symptoms ranging from sore throat to bleeding and pneumonia, allergies around the valve site.

According to VNE