The push for instant weight loss has lead to the popularization of surgeries that can dramatically alter the human body and its digestive functions. Complications are numerous, but the demand for weight loss surgery is high and it doesn’t look as though it will be waning any time soon. For those seeking a safer alternative, there may be hope on the horizon, but experts warn that it is no silver bullet to weight loss.

A company, GI Dynamics, is claiming that they have a new product that can mimic the effects of weight loss surgery, without the invasive procedure. The company is currently resting an intestinal liner, which is made of a substance very similar to Teflon that can reduce the body’s ability to absorb fat.

"Fundamentally what we're trying to do is mimic the bypass portion of a gastric bypass procedure. So instead of surgically bypassing ... we're mechanically bypassing the intestine ... with an impermeable membrane that lines the inside of the intestine," said Stuart Randle, the chief executive officer GI Dynamics.

While in theory this sounds like a magical cure to weight gain, there are several complications that could ensue. Namely, the material could also inhibit the absorption of key vitamins and nutrients, leaving the patient deficient in many areas. The liner apparently slows down the entire digestive process, and proponents claim that this leaves patients feeling fuller, longer.

Participants in a recent study managed to lose thirty pounds after having the device implanted in their intestines. The procedure, while non invasive, does require the liner to be implanted into the body through the mouth. Although the primary study looked hopeful, there is still cause for real concern about this device, as well as weight loss surgery in general.

Although they can be very effective over the short term, some experts have likened these techniques to fad diets. The patient loses weight very quickly, but there is no motivation to make a lifestyle change. Since many of these procedures are not permanent, it is all too easy for the patient to gain back the weight that they lost over a period of a few years.

Despite the popularity of radical surgeries and the development of new methods to help people lose weight quickly, there is no replacement for proper nutrition and exercise, particularly for those that want to avoid the harmful side effects that go hand in hand with many of these procedures.

For those desperate to lose weight without any effort, these surgeries and new devices offer hope, but is it a false hope? The long term results have yet to come in, and until they definitively prove that these methods offer a safe and healthy way to lose weight, the best solution is still to modify bad eating habits, develop a fitness strategy and address issues that cause emotional eating. At the end of the day, that is by far the safest and most effective way to achieve long term weight loss.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-01 05:43:45. Republished by Old Post Promoter

Related Posts

• The Pritikin Weight Loss Breakthrough by Nathan Pritikin When Nathan Pritikin found out that he had heart disease, back in the 1950’s, most dietary concepts were pretty basic. He was one of the first to try out a low fat, high fiber diet to improve heart health and his results were pretty amazing. Fast forward to today and......
• Useful Web Apps for Weight Loss Everyone seems to be getting into weight loss, healthy eating and exercise habits these days, and with that, there has been a surge in the availability of web applications designed to aid in diet and exercise, weight loss, goal setting and other life improvements. Some of these web applications and......
• The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You To Know About By Kevin Trudeau The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About is an interesting book that covers quite a lot of shaky ground. If you’re sick of trying several different diets that never seem to work, you may be tempted to buy it and give it a whirl. However, it’s......
• Swimming for Weight Loss When planning the fitness aspect of one's weight loss plan, most people immediately feel forced into aerobics, running, walking, and going to the gym. These are not your only options. In fact, if you limit yourself to these options, you will get burnt out and end up giving up far......
• The Dangers of Weight Loss Shortcuts The problem with weight loss shortcuts is that they attempt to go against the real science behind weight loss, health and nutrition. There is only one real way to diet, and that is to burn more calories than you take in. A single pound of weight is equivalent to 3,500......

Related Websites

• Weight Loss Diet Plans For Overweight Teenage Boys If you have ever been looking for diet plans for obese teenage boys, then you are in luck. Many teenage boys are overweight, even some of the more active ones....
• The Biggest Loser Couples Season 7, Episode 13 Video Recap with Pete Thomas Pete Thomas' Biggest Loser Video Recap of Week 13 You need to know how this show does their editing to understand what is going on later that night. The beginning of the show has Filipe, Sione and Kristin rehashing the eviction from last week. They were upset that Ron tried......
• Better Ways to Help You Lose Weight A weight management program that works long term is not something that you go on and off when you feel you need to lose a few pounds. The program that you can live with must be flexible enough to work with you rather than against you. Diets that restrict food...
• Honey Weight Loss and General Health From WeightLossNote.com Honey represents a natural source of energy and nutritious substances for our organism. The Greeks where among the first to recognize the nutritional qualities provided by the honey and because of that they called it ‘a gift of gods’. Honey is easy assimilated by our organism, because it......
• How to Monetize Your Blog If you want to monetize your blog, you have to ask yourself a series of questions, starting with what kind of blog is it, and do you have any readers? If you're not getting readers at your blog, you might as well put all your money-making plans on hold. Even......

Online Stores

• Discount Low Carb Products Cheap Weight Loss Journal Low Carb Store

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.

Time the change your life? No longer content to live a sedentary lifestyle and revel in couch potatoism? Click here to download the 31 page the 100% FREE eBook "How to Lose Weight and Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle."

Categories:

Weight Loss Journal, surgery, weight loss

Tags:

absorption, chief executive officer, digestive process, fad diets, gastric bypass, hope on the horizon, human body, impermeable membrane, instant weight loss, intestine, intestines, invasive procedure, lifestyle change, magical cure, proponents, silver bullet, surgeries, teflon, weight gain, weight loss surgery