SWALLOWING AN EXPANDING CAPSULE FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
GASTROENTEROLOGY NERD ALERT:
SWALLOWING AN EXPANDING CAPSULE FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
Check out this article from CNN.com about a new medical device recently cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration to help treat obesity. Biotechnology company Gelesis, which developed the product, “announced FDA clearance this month and noted that the product, called Plenity, is the only prescription weight management product cleared for use by overweight adults with a body mass index of 25 or higher.”
“Even though it looks like a pill, Plenity is considered a medical device.
The hydrogel capsule can be taken with water before lunch and dinner. In the stomach, the capsule releases thousands of particles that absorb water and swell to create small individual gel pieces. Those gel pieces increase the volume and elasticity of the stomach and small intestine, helping to make you feel full, which then could lead to weight loss.
Once in the large intestine, the hydrogel is partially broken down by enzymes, loses its three-dimensional structure, releases the water that was absorbed and then gets expelled in feces.”
Before we get too excited, some limitations are potential gastrointestinal side effects (i.e. worsened reflux and abdominal pain) and modest benefit (data from a study on Plenity, published in the journal Obesity in February, found that the treatment resulted in 6.4% weight loss in a group of 223 patients using the product compared with 4.4% in 213 patients using a placebo; the study was funded by Gelesis).
Gelesis said Plenity will be broadly available by prescription in the United States in 2020. No cost for the product has been announced. I am eager to see some additional studies as well as insurance coverage information prior to recommending this as an option for my patients.
In the meantime, if you are interested in assistance with weight management, check out our comprehensive approach. The team at Comprehensive Gastrointestinal Health includes:
- Behavior coach
- Registered dietitian nutritionist
- Physical therapist/fitness consultant
- Nurse practitioner with expertise in weight management to help coordinate a complete metabolic assessment, as well as help optimize sleep quality and the gut microbiome (importance aspects of metabolism that are often overlooked)
Consultations with all of the practitioners are usually covered by standard commercial health insurance. We would be happy to help you determine your benefits and coverage. Please call 224.407.4400 or visit compgihealth.com for more information.