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Move over Ozempic, there’s a weight loss solution on the horizon that is literally electric
Researchers in South Korea are working on weight-loss techniques that focus on the brain as they hope to curb your hunger using a handy headband.
Though we have made strides towards a more accepting world, weight-loss advice and tips are still a major topic of conversation. Ozempic and drugs like it are highly sought after in 2024, with physicians encouraging its use. Some people are more inclined to try holistic approaches like the so-called Ozempic from nature.
The new study does away with pills, injections, and surgeries
If you’ve tried everything to lose weight, even the recently highlighted oats hack, you might be feeling a little helpless without help from drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy.
But thankfully, it looks like a solution could be around the corner courtesy of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute’s (KERI) Dr. Ki-young Shin.
In his recently published study, Shin jumped headfirst into the topic of weight loss management techniques. While most studies focus on the stomach and organ systems directly related to eating and digestion, Shin highlighted the brain’s power.
In collaboration with the Seoul National University Hospital, Shin’s team employed transcranial random noise stimulation (TRNS) in the hopes of stimulating areas of the brain related to appetite control.
Specifically, the researchers focused on the front area of your brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex which controls important functions like impulse control and decision-making.
So how does it actually work?
Though the idea of getting electrically zapped on your brain sounds intimidating, the electrical currents are reportedly barely present to the individual.
When it comes to the actual science behind the handy headband, further research is needed. However, the theory is that the electrical stimulation would enhance your dorsolateral prefrontal cortex’s ability to control impulses, meaning you’d be less likely to pig out.
In a world rife with eating issues and disorders, the technology could also aid in rehabilitation and treatment, the researchers said.
Although the technology is not yet complete and needs further research and verification, if this electrostimulation treatment equipment with far fewer side effects than existing obesity treatments is commercialized and can be used at home instead of in hospitals, it will provide an easy and simple method for daily appetite suppression management, Dr. Shin said.
He added in the media release: Especially when people are under stress or difficulty, many people eat food due to emotional hunger, and if digital healthcare technology that combines electrostimulation treatment and exercise therapy is introduced, it will enhance weight loss effects and help individuals manage their health more effectively.
