There’s a device that drains food out of your stomach — and the FDA approved it

Grey_1

I'm not struggling with obesity, but I saw this and am genuinely interested in opinions here. It seems the potential for abuse here is huge. Then again...there could be benefits for people who seem to be unable to lose weight based on other medical factors?

What do you think?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/theres-a-device-that-drains-food-out-of-your-stomach--and-the-fda-approved-it/2016/06/23/9a40ed3c-3975-11e6-a254-2b336e293a3c_story.html

The most surprising thing about the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the obesity-control device called AspireAssist may be how little mainstream attention it attracted. Because, frankly, a weight-loss machine that lets you eat all you want and then drains the food out of your stomach is a pretty startling invention.

AspireAssist works like this: In a 15-minute outpatient procedure, a surgeon implants a tube into a patient’s stomach. The tube is connected to a valve that lies flush against the skin of the abdomen. Twenty to 30 minutes after every meal, the patient opens the valve and uses a connecting device to drain the stomach contents into a toilet. “The device removes approximately 30 percent of the calories consumed,” the FDA said in announcing the approval on June 14.

But is it actually just a “medical bulimia machine”?

The FDA approval said that the machine is intended for obese people who have been unable to lose weight by other methods and that it should not be used by anyone with an eating disorder.

Friedhoff, though he notes the initial skepticism, takes a thoughtful approach, saying it’s too soon to judge what AspireAssist can and should do. So far, he says, the data is “very interesting” — though he warns that it is not data from peer-reviewed published studies, just from the manufacturer’s presentation.

Grey_1

MeganAM89 wrote: »

I think I'd want to see more information in terms of how a person gains access to it. I mean, it says there that they'd go to an outpatient clinic, but then can they just go home, eat some food, and then suck all of the stuff out of their stomach once they're done without even leaving the house?

This just seems like a really bad idea. I'm sure that if left unsupervised so many people could rob their bodies of the food that they actually require.

There are one or two in my wife's family that would do just that.

cityruss

And we march further towards a cyborg utopia.

GottaBurnEmAll

I'm really, really, really, really, really, really, really not in favor of this device.

At all.

I agree that obesity is a huge problem and that we need to take it very seriously.

The thing is that it's a complex issue and I believe it needs to be handled like a medical specialty. All aspects of it need to be treated, perhaps in clinics with staffs specializing in various aspects of its treatment. Behavior modification, lifestyle adaptation, learning new skills if necessary, habit formation, nutrition education, as well as health monitoring and education on how weight loss works (energy balance). Supervision and direction instruction on using macro balancing for satiety to see you through maintaining a calorie deficit... I'm just dreaming here, but dreaming never hurt anyone.

Everyone keeps looking for a simple answer, and there isn't one.

Alatariel75

The whole idea of this device makes me very, very uncomfortable.

lemurcat12

There have been a number of discussions of this if you are interested in reading opinions (or if anyone doesn't feel like repeating their prior comments).

A couple of them are found here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10409787/fda-approves-weight-loss-stomach-pump-device/p1

and here: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10409925/fda-approves-stomach-pump/p1

Grey_1

Ah, I admit I didn't search. Thanks lemurcat12

leanjogreen18

Gross.

cerise_noir

Definitely not in favour of this. I can see a myriad of problems developing with this, such as malnutrition and possibly many heath issues.

Also, I cannot see how anyone who uses this device will keep that weight off even if they do manage to reach to goal due to lack of knowledge of weight loss in general and maintenance. It must be hard to determine exactly how many calories have been absorbed before this procedure. No one would know exactly how many calories they're absorbing or eliminating.

Alatariel75

I've been trying to work out how to word this.

I don't understand who would use this device.

I get that there are many, many hurdles for various people in losing weight, but this device works by significantly reducing the calories a person takes in. It doesn't change the basics of weight loss.

I just can't even imagine how this would become an option - if you can bring yourself to pump the contents out of your stomach out through a hole in your body into a toilet to lose weight, surely one of the other myriad of ways of reducing calorie intake is also something you could do?

I mean, a lapband or GB (other surgical interventions) stops you taking in so much. It's a restrictor, and that makes sense. But this actually requires a positive action after ever meal which is (I imagine) fairly gross. That's going to take some fortitude. If you can commit to doing that, how can you not commit to anything else?

It really strikes me as something that appears in a creepy futuristic scifi show reflecting on the dark future, like doctor Who, or Black Mirror...

Jeannie3099

Jesus Christ.

jennybearlv

That looks about as fun as a colostomy bag. I am curious what niche illness this is specifically being marketed for. Treatment resistant BED or people who can't get regular weight loss surgery?

Elise4270

I suppose it could be one step in helping someone recovery from eating disorders. Maybe? Safer than throwing up?

Therealobi1

No chance, I wouldn't be the guinea pig for that.

trigden1991

This is the perfect device to encourage people to not care about what or how much they eat and have no consequences. Ridiculous idea.

Gallowmere1984

Pretty sure we already had one lengthy topic on this nasty thing.

ETA: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10409925/fda-approves-stomach-pump

kristikitter

Hey, robotised bulimia!

The fact that people would rather do this than count calories is very scary.

rainbowbow

Seemed very much like surgically assisted bulimia along with encouraging people to continue to over-eat.

truly disgusting.

JustMissTracy

Not in favor at all...People need to just put in the work, make the sacrifices...

Gallowmere1984

JustMissTracy wrote: »

Not in favor at all...People need to just put in the work, make the sacrifices...

I'd posit that those who use this thing are making even more sacrifice than we are. Kind of a "pick your poison" scenario, but they are sacrificing something we are all slowly getting back: self-control and knowledge.

Grey_1

Gallowmere1984 wrote: »

JustMissTracy wrote: »

Not in favor at all...People need to just put in the work, make the sacrifices...

I'd posit that those who use this thing are making even more sacrifice than we are. Kind of a "pick your poison" scenario, but they are sacrificing something we are all slowly getting back: self-control and knowledge.

Not a sacrifice I'd be willing to make. Good call