World-first weight-loss device that uses magnets to prevent people from opening their mouths enough to eat solids, in order to fight the global obesity epidemic is being widely criticized.
DentalSlim Diet Control, an intra-oral contraption device, is developed by researchers at Dunedin. For the device to function, it is installed to the patients’ upper and lower back teeth by dental professionals. It uses “magnetic devices and custom-manufactured locking bolts,” so they cannot open their mouth wider than 2mm. The device, however, allows freedom of expression and doesn’t restrict breathing.
Findings Of The Research
Senior researcher and professor Paul Brunton, University of Otago pro-vice-chancellor of health sciences, said the tool would be an effective, safe and affordable tool for people battling obesity. It can be repeatedly fitted and removed by the dentist in case of unforeseen circumstances.
“It is a non-invasive, reversible, economical and attractive alternative to surgical procedures. The point is, there are no adverse consequences with this device,” Brunton said.
It was observed in a Dunedin-based trial that participants on average lost 6.36 kg in 14 days and were inspired to continue their weight-loss journey. The main barrier to weight reduction was seen to be adhering to healthy habits and this device helped them stick to a low-calorie diet for a certain period of time.
Recent studies showed 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight and 650 million are obese, which accounted for about 2.8 million deaths a year. It is estimated that by 2030, about 57% of the world’s adult population will be overweight or obese. The device could be particularly helpful for those needing to lose weight before a surgery, and for diabetes patients for whom their weight-loss journey could initiate remission.
Controversial DentalSlim Diet control
Inventions always come with pros and cons and so did DentalSlim diet control device. Many did not agree to the benefits the device offers, rather within two hours of the University of Otago announcing the apparatus on Twitter, it was ridiculed.
Some called the apparatus “Evil,” “Harmful,” and “Disturbing”. Others saw it as just clamping the mouth shut as they said obesity was induced both by biological and socioeconomic disadvantages and cannot be resolved by a device like this. Quite a few described the DentalSlim Diet Control as a “torture device.”
