It seems lately the flood gates have opened on the prescription diet pill market (see my sharepost Prescription Diet Pill Market Set to Expand). After writing that piece, I learned that Novo Nordisk is staffing up for an obesity drug they plan to launch in 2014 - liraglutide – which is already on sale as a treatment for type-2 diabetes under the brand name Victoza.

 

Now with the AMA just this week declaring obesity is a disease, I expect new and novel approaches to weight loss will be trying to hit the market (see my sharepost Is the Tongue Patch the Next Weight Loss Innovation?). One of the more controversial devices on the ASMBS emerging technology list is the AspireAssist pump, which works by sucking the food right out of the stomach so that only about a third of the calories are absorbed by the body. Patients wait 20 minutes after eating, then empty 30 percent of their stomach contents into the toilet through a small, handheld device that connects to a skin-port discretely embedded on the outside of the abdomen. Calories not digested are calories not absorbed, which, in theory should lead to weight loss. Did I just hear someone say Roman vomitorium?

 

And now I learn of the EndoBarrier by way of this article, which at least sounds more promising than the aforementioned devices. My gut feeling on this, however, is that it either will not get US FDA approval - getting drug/device approval outside the US is typically easier so I do not take those approvals as a sign that this will be approved here - or if it does get approved I think the device will not show long-term success. That's just my instinct and I am neither a clinician or a scientist, but the fact remains that outside of bariatric surgery there are virtually no effective long-term weight-loss solutions although many have come to market and failed.

 

Clearly with 70% of Americans being overweight or obese and a high percentage of those having obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes, solutions are needed. Speaking for myself, as someone who initially struggled with the decision to have bariatric surgery, in hindsight these 10-years my life has been wonderful since taking control of my health (read my sharepost My Life after Weight-Loss Surgery is Wonderful). And I don't know why I or anyone else who meets the criteria for weight loss surgery would not want to have this life-saving procedure.

 

I get it - the permanent rerouting of my anatomy scared the heck out of me. But looking back I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Hello, I have tried  all of the plans and prescrip drugs, ( i think over the years i have spent a fortune) but I have finally found a program, that is meant for everyone including athletes, that provides every nutrient i need and so far in one week 5 lbs down, a friend told me about it so i ordered the products and so far, i am feeling great with alot of energy, Wish me luck, if you are interested in trying it you can email me at [email protected] or ca

. I am doing well. Stinking busy but that's ok. I am thinking of getting the excess skin removed from my back. If I do it will be next November. I am fairly sure I will get it done...but I am trying to live with it.

I had a lively discussion awhile back about celebrating with food. The funny thing was is that I wasn't opposed to it...I will have to post that later, I think it could be an interesting discussion on OH.

I had an incredibly crazy tough day today....

Eating used to be the answer...today it was a 5K (all I had time for)

Anyone else notice changes as you go forward on the journey?

I had to gastric bypass 8 years ago in May and just got my first IT Works Body Wraps in the mail the yesterday. I was going to do one this evening, but then found out that they don't recommend you doing one after you have tanned so I am going to wait till tomorrow night to do my first wrap. I hope it can tone up my stomach, thighs and arms since I am going on vacation to the beach in 4 weeks and want to look half way decent.