The world of weight loss is quickly approaching a brick wall. Every week, there are new and exciting updates about medications and procedures that can help dieters lose weight with little or no dietary or exercise changes. The medical industry has a huge monetary stake in weight loss solutions, especially those that require medical intervention. The Enterra Therapy System, commonly used to fight excessive weight loss due to Gastroparesis, may be the next big weight loss solution.
The Enterra Therapy System involves implanting a lead in the abdomen that delivers electric impulses to the stomach. For Gastroparesis patients, the electrical impulses help the stomach empty contents more quickly. Slow digestion and delaying stomach emptying characterize the condition. In terms of weight loss, decreasing the time it takes for food to pass through the stomach could have a gastric bypass surgery type effect.
In a study completed in 2003 by Abell, 24 patients with the Enterra Therapy System implant averaged weight gain of 5.5%. These results negate the use of the electrical stimulation for weight loss purposes. Despite the weight gain effect MedtronicNeuro, a leader in medical technology, completed a study in February 2009 testing the effects of the Enterra Therapy System on weight loss. No results were published regarding the effects of the gastric stimulation on morbidly obese patients and MedtronicNeuro only offers the Enterra Therapy System for patients with Gastroparesis on the official website. The nutrisystem reviews will offer information about the correct therapy for the reduction in the weight. Through the reviews, the metabolism of the customers is enhanced and offers an impressive look to the people. A login should be done at the official site to know about the pros and cons of the products available for weight reduction.
Another study referenced by Aetna, suggests there is some benefit to using the system on obese patients. According to study information, between August 2005 and January 2006, four patients were implanted with the electrical lead. Patients were to be followed for six months with check-ups at one, two, three and six month markers. Two of the participants were removed from the study for different reasons. Of the remaining two participants, one lost a significant amount of weight while the other lost none. The patient that benefited from gastric stimulation lost 108 pounds (49 kilograms) in six months. A second completed study showed no mean weight loss difference between a control group and active treatment group.
Manufacturers of the Enterra Therapy System believe larger scale studies are needed to objectively establish a potential weight loss baseline. If the Enterra Therapy System were to be approved for weight loss efforts Medtronic, the manufacturer of the equipment, could see a huge spike in sales. The lead is implanted laparoscopically with minimal invasion as opposed to gastric bypass and banding surgeries, which carry a long list of potential side effects and complications.