Is This New Weight Loss Device Scary? Seems So

The AspireAssist--which drains ingested food from the stomach into the toilet--generated some strong opinions from Qmed's medical device industry readers.

Chris Newmarker

When asked what they thought of Aspire Bariatrics's AspireAssist weight loss device, recently approved by FDA, the majority of the 56 Qmed readers who responded agreed it was "scary."

The device includes a gastrostomy tube that is surgically implanted into the stomach. The tube is connected to a valve in the abdomen, which remains closed until it's time to drain the stomach. The device was designed to drain from the fundus, or the upper part of the stomach, where the maximum amount that can be drained is roughly 30% of the calories consumed.

"Any truly novel therapy is apt to be 'unconventional' at first," Kathy Crothall, current president and CEO of Aspire Bariatrics, recently told Qmed. Crothall says the company has studies that have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the device.

Qmed readers had some strong quotes about the device:

"Creative, but unfortunately doesn't address cause of obesity."

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"Should only be used as a last resort!"

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"I'm a little curious why a patient wouldn't just eat more after draining the stomach, wouldn't they feel hungry/empty? It's also interesting that they are willing to make a behavioral change, going through the trouble of emptying the system more easily than they are able/willing to eat less."

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"I had Roux-en-Y surgery for treatment of my obesity. Had this device been available at the time, I would certainly have considered it as a option."

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"Can't wait to see the adverse events from this one."

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"I would expect the treatment to be coupled with training in healthy eating to maintain any weight loss achieved."

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"Relying on science and technology to solve our human faults is scary."

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"Just diet."

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"As someone who has dealt with weight issues all my life, I am completely disinclined to undergo surgical intervention. NOT happening."

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"Ugly, intrusive, a production number to do at least 2-3 times daily, and expensive for th results produced; UGH!"

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"This alternative is not as bad as the eventual outcome for people that need it!"

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"This is just wrong, Although I have every sympathy for the obese, equipment like this is not going to help the root cause which is an addiction to food. The equipment is an impressive device however; I feel that this would need to be supplemented with the professional help of the food addiction otherwise as soon as the weight is lost and the device is removed there is a very high chance that they will need the device again in the future."

Chris Newmarker is senior editor of Qmed. Follow him on Twitter at @newmarker.

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