I saw this on the local news last week and found this super interesting. A new device called the vBloc may be the newest weight loss solution for those who have had prolonged futile attempts at diets, exercise, and other weight-loss measures. vBloc works similarly to the LapBand, in that it is designed to restrict the feeling of hunger. Unlike the LapBand, which physically constricts the upper portion of the stomach, vBloc works by constricting the nervous system. The system contains two electrical leads, which connect to the two vagal trunks, the nerves which allow the stomach to communicate with the brain; signals from the vagal trunks give one the sense of hunger and fullness. vBloc's electrical impulses distort vagal communication, allowing one to fill satisfied with a shorter amount of food. Better yet, unlike physical constrictors like the LapBand, vBlock is electronically adjustable, able to adapt as one's hunger sensations change.
vBloc just received FDA certification this past January and the device is already showing promising results. A 2008 study* on 31 patients with the device installed, published in the Journal of Surgery, found that after 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months, patients had 7.5%, 11.6%,and 14.2% mean excess weight loss, respectively. As compared with the baseline, these results yielded p < 0.0001, suggesting that the excess weight loss is statistically higher in patients with vBlock implanted. In the same 31 patients, mean caloric intake over the course of 6 months after vBlock implantation decreased by over 30% ( p ≤ .01), with earlier satiation and reduced hunger, with p-values of p < .001 and p = 0.005, respectively (indicating statistically significant results). Clearly, the device is changing one's diet rather drastically.
It always amazes me how one solution to one problem can easily be modified to solve another problem. In this case, the pacemaker is still continuing to set the beat; only this time, the beat lies not in the heart, but in the desire to eat.
*The link for the 2008 study leads you to an online abstract. The actual article must be accessed via use of the Regis University library and may be found here.
I think this an extremely interesting and novel approach to weight loss. I personally have never been a fan of lap-band surgeries because to me they are more of a crutch than a solution. While lap-bands do restrict the stomach to allow one to get full faster, they can be overcome by still eating a lot. This surgery requires the patient to be motivated and change their diet, or the band is not really going to help much. You might get full faster, but if you're eating very caloric-dense, non-nutritious foods you still aren't going to lose weight. I always think diet and exercise, if backed with proper motivation, are the most effective way to lose weight. However, I do realize that everyone's situation is different, and surgeries may be necessary for some. In that case, the vBloc sounds like a great option if I were a physician. It also seems safer than lap-band surgeries, as there can be complications associated with the band itself, such as leakage, slippage, or erosion into the stomach wall.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of this new device but I think it is an interesting approach to have a neurological influence versus a physical one that the lap-band previously has. I agree with Travis that the lap-band has a lot of problems and is also a lot more invasive in that sometimes it can fuse with the stomach wall and cause extreme complications. Also I like that the device can be changed by the physician or adapt to the patient as their diet or hunger sensations change this is another approach to more personalized medicine. I also think that this technology can be used to implement other nerve control issues that may not have been previously thought of. Really interesting new idea.
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