Most Americans prefer surgery, meds to lose weight

Obese and overweight Americans who have tried losing weight report far greater overall satisfaction with weight loss surgery and prescription weight loss medications than with diet, exercise and other self-modification methods, according to results presented at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society.

Of more than 39,000 respondents, 58.4 percent of obese people were not currently taking any steps to lose weight. The percentage of obese respondents who reported being extremely or very satisfied with their weight loss method was 39.3 percent in the Surgery/Rx group versus only 20.2 percent in the group that used self-modification methods.

The researchers observed similar findings in the overweight respondents, with 44.4 percent of the Surgery/Rx group being extremely or very satisfied with their treatment compared with 19.7 percent of participants who used self-modification.

Electrocute Yourself to Lose Weight?

On June 17, an FDA advisory panel moved closer to full FDA approval on VBLOC—a new implant designed to curb appetite by electrocuting stomach nerves. The device is implanted under the skin of the chest, and delivers electrical shocks down the two trunks of the vagus nerve (the nerve that controls the digestive system, heart, lungs, and some glands). The jolts stun nerves around the stomach, decreasing hunger pangs and simulating a feeling of fullness.

The panel voted 8-to-1 that the device is safe, 6-to-2 that the device’s benefits outweigh its risk, and 4-to-5 that the device will effectively help patients lose weight (that is, a majority voted that it would not help patients lose weight). The side effects of VBLOC, produced by EnteroMedics, Inc., include pain, heartburn, constipation, nausea, depression, diarrhea, infection, organ or nerve damage, device movement, and device malfunction. The vagus nerve is one of the body’s most important organs. If it is damaged, the effects will be horrendous for health.

This is absolutely shocking.