Botox as a
weight loss tool could be the thing in the near future as researchers from the
Norwegian University of Science and Technology have had promising experimental
results with rats. Botox is currently a popular procedure to look young as it eliminates
facial wrinkles. But PhD candidate Helene Johannessen of Norwegian University
of Science and Technology (NTNU) found another use of Botox. She is very
positive about Botox being a less costly and less dangerous alternative to
treating morbid obesity.
Injected
Botox in rats showed positive signs towards weight loss. When Johannessen
injected rats with Botox into the vagus nerve in the stomach, they ate less and
lost 20-30 percent of their body weight after five weeks. The test found out
that the injected Botox effectively paralyzed the vagus nerve, which triggers
the sense of hunger and controls the passing of food through the intestines.
Muscles in
the stomach got paralyzed when the nerve was paralyzed. This situation led to slow
passage of food through the stomach. This effect could be experienced by us in
the near future as it will possibly cause people to feel fuller for longer
period of time.
If
Johannessen and her colleagues succeed in their efforts, Botox treatment will
be a great alternative to gastric bypass surgery and will give people a healthier
and less weighty life. According to Johannessen, clinical studies to human will
begin after they get approval from Norwegian medical ethics authorities. They’re
planning to invite patients who are candidates for obesity operations but can’t
undergo one.
