Scientists have created a vibrating capsule against obesity (5 photos)

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created a high-tech capsule that vibrates and promotes weight loss. It gives you a feeling of fullness - and after it you almost don’t want to eat.





Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created an anti-obesity capsule - VIBES. It begins to vibrate upon contact with gastric juice, stimulating the receptors, “stretching” the stomach and creating a feeling of fullness. The drug has not yet been tested in humans, but tests on pigs have shown very promising results. After 30 minutes of action of the capsule, the pigs consumed almost 40% less food than usual in the next half hour. According to the researchers, the capsule should be taken on an empty stomach 20-30 minutes before the intended meal to induce a feeling of fullness at the very beginning of the meal.



The capsule is powered by a built-in battery and is activated either by gastric juice, which dissolves the membrane around the pill, or by a built-in timer. After use, the tablet leaves the body naturally. Scientists estimate that the cost of a capsule will be only up to $1. In addition, experts plan to make the pill implantable, eliminating the need for people to constantly take it orally.



The idea for creating such a capsule belongs to Shriya Srinivasan, a former graduate student and postdoc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now an assistant professor in the Department of Bioengineering at Harvard University. He has been interested for many years in how the connection between the brain and the stomach can be controlled by influencing receptors in the stomach using vibration. Now he and his team plan to first test the capsule on people and then possibly launch production. According to scientists, the VIBES capsule could “revolutionize the treatment of patients with obesity.”