Dieters around the world understand that despite culinary creativity, nothing quite compares to the satisfaction derived from sugary or fatty foods.
Now, science may have found a solution: a vibrating pill that, when swallowed before a meal, induces feelings of fullness.
Although the research has not yet been conducted in humans, preliminary studies involving pigs revealed promising results.
Pigs that were administered the Vibes pill exhibited an almost 40% reduction in food intake over the subsequent half hour compared to when they ate without the device, resulting in slower weight gain.
The name “Vibes” is derived from the full title of the pill—Vibrating Ingestible BioElectronic Stimulator. According to the study, vibrations from the pill activate stretch receptors in the stomach, mimicking the presence of food.
This stimulation triggers the vagus nerve, sending signals to the hypothalamus in the brain.
Consequently, levels of hormones associated with feelings of fullness increase, while those linked to hunger decrease.
“We envision the Vibes pill being ingested on a relatively empty stomach 20 to 30 minutes before meals to induce an early sensation of satiety,” explained the research team.
They anticipate that once produced at scale, the cost of the pills will range from cents to a dollar each.
The pill, about the size of a large vitamin tablet, contains a battery encased in a swallowed capsule. The vibrations can be initiated when stomach acid dissolves a membrane around the pill or by a built-in timer.
Researchers emphasize that these pills offer a non-invasive, temporary therapy option without the need for weight-loss surgery.
After use, they exit the body with other solid waste, making disposal as simple as flushing them down the toilet.
Looking ahead, the possibility of developing implants or longer-lasting pills that remain in the stomach could reduce the need for repeated ingestion for ongoing therapy.
“This approach provides an alternative and potentially complementary strategy to existing therapies,” noted Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and co-author of the study.
Importantly, the pill does not involve the use of drugs, which often carry significant side effects.
While initial excitement over “skinny jabs” like Wegovy has been tempered by side effects such as persistent nausea, the firm Novo Nordisk, a funder of the vibrating pill research, remains optimistic about this new approach.
