Ending the obesity in America and around the world has become one of the biggest struggles that man kind has yet to tackle. Of course the medical field has tried various remedies such as gastric bypass and the ever popular, lap ban surgery. While others turn to drugs such as Alli and other weight loss pills. However, our obesity rate is still on the rise. Now a new, more drastic (and somewhat scary) approach is being tested. Could this new therapy which involves electrodes which shock the brain, to alter behavior be the real cure? Or could this treatment just be one more gimmick that doesn’t solve the true problem?
But in the U.S., the latest approach to tackling obesity is even more drastic. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), as it is known, involves inserting electrodes into the brain to deliver tiny bursts of electricity to alter the patient’s behaviour.
DBS is already used in the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and dystonia – here it works by blocking the nerve signals causing the spasms.
With obese patients, the idea is to target the hypothalamus, the area of the brain which controls our desire to eat. Basically it works by making the patient feel full.
The new approach is being tested in a U.S. Government-approved trial, which is running for three years.
During the procedure, patients first have holes drilled into their skull. The electrodes are then implanted – these are attached to wires, which are fed across the surface of the brain and under the skin to a small battery implanted under the collarbone.
The operation is performed under local anaesthetic so that surgeons can place the electrodes in the right place, guided by the patient’s reactions. The patient is asked whether or not they feel full in order to position the electrodes correctly.
So far, two patients have had the operation, and early indications are ‘promising’, with both eating less and losing weight.
To read the full article vist Daily Mail.com
Whoa!!!! This seems to be getting a bit out of hand. I know that there are a lot of people out there that struggle with obesity. However, this shock treatment reminds me of the shock treatment done on psych patients in the early years. Messing with your brain could have some HUGE side affects!!! Holes drilled in your skull isn’t the way to a healthier body.
Adria Ali
Leave a Reply