Orthodontic Device Fights Obesity

A new aid has been developed for those who want to permanently lose weight! Linda Loyd of The Philadelphia Inquirer has recently reported that a new oral insert, which helps people get rid of excess pounds by taking smaller bites, is about to be tested in the USA.

The device has already undergone clinical trials on more than 50 obese patients in Europe, at an Amsterdam orthodontic clinic, and the results have been very promising. 

The oral insert was invented by a 330 pound man from Amsterdam, who had tried many diets and had even considered a gastric by-pass surgery to make his stomach smaller, but was not ready for this drastic step. Instead, he tried wiring his jaws in order to prevent himself from taking big bites. He even wanted to do it permanently, but wiring was uncomfortable and would not allow him to… sing! Eventually, he got the idea to attach elastics to his molar teeth, which would restrict his jaw movements - and would reduce the amount of food he could put into his mouth. He approached orthodontist Rene Linders with the idea, and together they designed a device. The oral insert was manufactured from dental polymer connected to a chain, and had to be attached to the lower and upper molars with special orthodontic adhesive. When patients wearing this smart apparatus try to open their mouth wide, the chain presses on the jaw or teeth and causes unpleasant sensations, which discourages them from taking big bites of food.

The inventor of the device wore it for nine consecutive months, with astonishing results - without dieting or exercising, he was able to lose 130 pounds of excess weight! Even after he removed the insert, his weight remained at stable 200 pounds as he continued to eat smaller portions - a good habit acquired from months of wearing the device.

The commercial name of the new invention is “Small Bits”. It is being further developed by a company called “Small Bite Inc.” that, in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is going to launch more clinical research to determine the effectiveness of the oral insert on obese patients. The trials are planned to take place in Philadelphia and $300,000 to promote this new promising weight loss technology will be contributed by Ben Franklin Technology Partners from Pennsylvania.

Small Bits’ insert represents a form of behaviour therapy, designed to teach people to take smaller bites and therefore consume fewer calories. Patients’ inability to control portions is one of the biggest problems in managing obesity. 

In the picture: Denis Mulder, co-founder and chief executive officer at Small Bite Inc.

Tim Ford