Expandable slimming pill doubles chances of losing weight

Since obesity is a growing concern, researchers have creating a new slimming pill that is able to expand in the stomach and increase changes of losing weight.

Scientists have created a breakthrough expandable slimming pill called Plenity, which can possibly enhance people’s chances of losing weight by making the person too full to eat any more.

Taken 20 minutes before meals, the capsule enlarges enough to fill up a quarter of the stomach by absorbing water. The pill is basically made of plant materials that works just like a gastric balloon. It is used to help morbidly obese people lose weight by filling up their stomach.

Researchers find new way for eating anything without gaining weight

The pills were made by a firm called Gelesis and consists cellulose and citric acid, working similarly to foods such as porridge and vegetables that absorb water and keep people full for longer time periods.

For trials, scientists asked 223 people to take three of the pills before lunch and dinner with two glasses of water, while on a moderate diets (eating 300 fewer calories per day), everyday for 24 weeks. As compared to the 4.4% lost body weight of people that took useless sugar pills, the ones on Plenity lost 6.4%, reported Daily Mail. The capsule worked for 59% of people, who lost almost 10kgs.

The pill, which is effective mostly on overweight people on those on the lower scale of obesity, had few side effects beyond mild gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain or bloating. Expert Jason Halford, who was not involved in the study, said, “This is a breakthrough for people who eat too much at a meal or find themselves going back for seconds.

“This capsule will make them feel full more quickly, so that they eat less. We didn’t previously have a study showing that this could work, although it won’t be effective in stopping people snacking between meals.”

According to Gelesis, Plenity are already available on prescription in the US. Harry Leider of Gelesis, said, “There really is an unmet need for new treatments that are effective for the majority and are really well tolerated. We are really optimistic that millions of people will benefit from Plenity.”