The latest in weight loss treatment for the morbidly obese comes in the form of a new device called the Abiliti system, an electronic implant which is inserted into the body below the ribs and controls eating behaviour.
Human clinical trials in Germany (2009) discovered that the implant led to a reduction in the patient’s food intake by 45% per meal. In some cases, a half a stone weight loss was reported per month within the first year.
The device detects the presence of food in the stomach and sends signals to the brain indicating fullness. The operation is now available in Britain but is not available on the NHS and costs up to to £15,000.