A genetic chip that is to be implanted in the arm can aid dieters with their weight loss as it tells you when to stop eating, according to a new study.
Scientists are developing a computer chip that can be implanted in the arm of a dieter to help with their weight loss. The said chip will also constantly check for fat in the blood and would release a hormone that sates hunger if someone has already eaten too much. Scientists tested the early version of the device on mice and found out that obese creatures ate less fatty foods and even shed weight. The people involved in the study hope that within five to ten years they will be able to produce a coin-like version of the device that can easily be slipped under the skin of a dieter.
The journal of Nature Communications reports that the chip contains two genes that work hand in hand to keep appetite in check. The first gene monitors fat levels in the blood while the second gene works as an appetite suppressant. Professor Martin Fussenegger, the chip's inventor says chips containing other combinations of genes could also be developed to help tackle other types of illnesses. If proven effective, it would provide an alternative to diet pills which have to be taken several times a day as well as other invasive obesity procedures such as gastric banding. The researchers developing the chip also hope that it will be free of major side effects. As of late, the chip is still subject to funding and if approved, it can be tested on people for the first time in around three years. If it proves to be effective and safe, it can be made available a few years thereafter.
