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Capsules that partially fill the stomach before a meal can help people lose weight and keep it off, said Sunday the European Congress of Obesity.
The hydrogel capsule was first published in 2010, when it was called Attiva. Today, Plenity has been tested on more than 400 people. This only worked for 59% of people, but among them, it doubled their chances of losing 5% to 10% of their weight.
The diet pills have a checkered history and only one is approved for the use of the NHS in the UK – Xenical – which is not extremely popular because of its mode of operation. It prevents the absorption of fat, so that it passes directly through the body and can lead to stomach or intestinal problems.
The company Plenity, manufactured by the American company Gelesis, is technically a medical device rather than a drug. It does not require such extensive testing. The capsules contain cellulose-based hydrogel, present in fruits and vegetables, and citric acid. Three capsules are taken with two glasses of water 20 minutes before a meal. They absorb water and swell in the stomach.
"What happens is that these small particles are released into your stomach and turn into gel. This gel occupies about 250 ml of your stomach, about a quarter of its volume, "said Dr. Harry Leider, Chief Physician of Gelesis.
"This gel – it's like a mashed vegetable – mixes with food. You feel full when you eat, so you do not eat as much. This is the main mechanism. "
The gel is not absorbed. It crosses the small intestine, then goes to the colon where it breaks down, where the water is absorbed and what remains is evacuated in the feces.
"Since there is no chemical interaction with the body, it is not absorbed, it is mostly mechanical. It has a very good profile of safety and tolerance, "he said. "That's why it's regulated as a device and not a medicine.
"It is recommended to help the patient manage weight, dieting and exercise. We encourage patients to contribute to a conservative diet and focus on exercise because we know that it will help people succeed. Nothing is the miracle solution. This is a new tool in our arsenal. "
The study involved 436 people, half of whom took the capsules and the other a placebo. All were overweight or moderately obese and tried to lose weight by following a diet and exercising. The average weight at the start was about 100 kg. Patients in the placebo group lost 4.4% of body weight and those who took active capsules, 6.4%. But taking into account differences including initial weight, age and sex, Leider said, there was a 2% weight loss compared to placebo.
The experts in obesity have said that the capsules, which could possibly be available in pharmacies from next year, could be useful.
"I would warn against magic bullets, but for a certain group of consumers who are doing all they need in terms of diet and exercise, it could help them stay on track", said Professor Jason Halford of the University of Liverpool at the Glasgow meeting where the results of the test were presented.
"It could help a lot of millions of people. It is well tolerated and increases satiety so that people eat less. You do not need a surgeon to do it, you just buy it in a box and swallow a pill. It seems easy and effective, millions of people could benefit, "said Dr. Nathalie Farpour-Lambert, president of the European Association for the Study of Obesity.
Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, President of the Royal College of GPs, however, has issued a note of caution. "It certainly sounds like an interesting development and the noninvasive nature of a pill would be appealing to many patients and health professionals," she said.
"But we should be cautious in thinking of this as a new miracle cure for weight loss, because non-medical approaches to a healthy lifestyle should always be explored first, so that society does not become dependent. interventions. "
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