Okay, I know we have to stop an obesity epidemic, and part of that is controlling the urge to eat - and I know all about that as I constantly have to watch my weight.
But it is reported that obese volunteers will get an electric shock when they think about binge-eating in a new medical trial. Seriously??? Apparently, electrodes will be implanted in their brains so they can be zapped when they feel compelled to over-eat!
US Scientists (I guess this had to stem from America) say experiments on overweight mice show it is possible to identify brain signals that administer electric shocks to stop it. (I would point our the mice cannot complain!!).
It has to be said it was successful. Food bingeing by the mice was reduced by 75 per cent. Researchers at California's Stanford University are still seeking human volunteers. They say the human guinea pigs' brain activity will be studied for months before the shocks are turned on to ensure they can accurately detect when patients crave unhealthy food.
Study leader Doctor Casey Halpern said: "we do not know what a binge looks like or what food craving looks like in a human - so we need to define that first."
HMHB says:
Look, anything that can help people control their overeating and build to a healthier lifestyle and eating habits is great. But giving people electric shocks, in our opinion, seems a little excessive.
We realise they will not be too harsh. When we saw this story online there was a mock up picture of a bloke whop seemed to have stuck his finger into a plug socket. We are sure it wont feel anything like that.
But surely there are better ways to look at eating habits?? The mice were not able to tell scientists just how uncomfortable any of this was. Even though I have yoyoed in weight, and am still on a weight loss regime, I do not think I would want to sign up to this research. Let's see what happens?
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