FDA Approves the Aspire Assist Stomach pump, a Minimally-Invasive Alternative to Weight Loss Surgery for People with Moderate to Severe Obesity

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I would really like to know your opinion on this @AlexBrecher.

I felt very angry and upset when first exposed to this technology a few years ago....I even wrote an article about how abhorrent the concept was.

Every time I get this angry, I start doubting my feelings. So I started researching the procedure and device and talked to a few patients that are using it. I got to know the procedure a little better, understood their expectations, needs, and results.

What I see are patients benefiting from this method with an outstanding safety profile...

Sometimes our mind tricks us with hate and anger.... I don't like this so I turn it into something more rational for me.

I recently heard a very moving presentation from one of the investigators and a patient. I personally don't know that I'd recommend it, but the truth is that now that it's approved doctors and patients will decide if this succeeds or fails.

Thanks for this, Alex.

The first thing I thought of when I heard about this was that there must be a good application for it but not necessarily for weight loss. I have heard of people that due to cancer or other digestive diseases have lost all ability to eat food. The fact that they couldn't eat, even if they could get nutrition in other ways, severely impacted their will to live.

There is something primal about our need to eat.

[needtorecover 574]

This is rewarding gluttony! NO!

Awful!

1) I am very, very conscious of food waste and have been working hard to control my portions so I don't end up throwing food away because there are hungry kids out there and it makes me so sad. Also, chickens, cows, and pigs die to feed me - the least I can do is be respectful enough not to waste what's been killed for human consumption.

2) How is this teaching ANYONE good habits??? Sure, go ahead and fill your stomach to its max capacity, all you have to do is excuse yourself to the bathroom and bam, problem solved!

3) NO!

I am all for researching new, less invasive ways to manage over-eating but this is absolutely not the solution.

[Julie norton 2,850]

If like to see more trials and results from 2-3 years later. I wonder if you can use this multiple times with breaks inbetween? I won't be judgemental about something that can change someone's weight and their outlook on life. I'm also thinking this could be useful for someone who needed to lose weight in order to qualify for surgery... Say knee replacement for instance.

[daniellepb 58]

I've read this post and agree that I don't want to waste food, but how is this different than ordering food at a dinner with friends and only eating 1/4? After a 5 day trip with my husband, who was expected to eat his dinner and the leftover 3/4 of mine, I wonder what the right solution is.

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[jess9395 5,448]

I've read this post and agree that I don't want to waste food, but how is this different than ordering food at a dinner with friends and only eating 1/4? After a 5 day trip with my husband, who was expected to eat his dinner and the leftover 3/4 of mine, I wonder what the right solution is.

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Bring home leftovers. Split a meal. Patronize restaurants that donate leftovers. Order a small plate or appetizer. Order a "add on" meat, many restaurants allow this--like add a shrimp skewer to your husband's meal at red Lobster. I've done all of these.

Heck even if you order a full entree and only eat 1/4 and waste the rest, it's different because you aren't doing it three times a day (or more) 7 times a week.

[Tara1992 79]

My first reaction when my mom told me about this today:

"You're joking"

My second reaction after she told me she wasn't joking:

"There are starving people in this world and we are THROWING more food away than we already do now..."

I don't know how this promotes a healthy lifestyle in any way shape or form. It is actually a monitored eating disorder.

I like to keep an open mind, but on this one I'm going to need some convincing.

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[Alex Brecher 10,484]

I've read this post and agree that I don't want to waste food, but how is this different than ordering food at a dinner with friends and only eating 1/4? After a 5 day trip with my husband, who was expected to eat his dinner and the leftover 3/4 of mine, I wonder what the right solution is.

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it's different because you aren't doing it three times a day (or more) 7 times a week.

The port limits you to 3 aspirations per day. After 30 Aspirations you need a new port and must return to your surgeon for follow up in order to get another. This limits abuse. You can't get around that. Not taking a side. Just want the right information out there.

[amandaelder4 26]

I can't imagine ever wanting to do this.

Here is an FDA approved alternative to the two finger diet. Instead of throwing up your just empty it through a medical tube. I don't see how this is helping with the over problem of obesity... eating to much of the wrong foods. This pump removes the food before your body can start absorbing it, but if you are eating healthier how will this benefit you.

I will be astonished if this does not cause severe malnutrition problems and can you imagine the risk factors of getting an infection.

I'll pass.

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[ErinMarie 186]

I would really like to know your opinion on this @AlexBrecher.

I felt very angry and upset when first exposed to this technology a few years ago....I even wrote an article about how abhorrent the concept was.

Every time I get this angry, I start doubting my feelings. So I started researching the procedure and device and talked to a few patients that are using it. I got to know the procedure a little better, understood their expectations, needs, and results.

What I see are patients benefiting from this method with an outstanding safety profile...

Sometimes our mind tricks us with hate and anger.... I don't like this so I turn it into something more rational for me.

I recently heard a very moving presentation from one of the investigators and a patient. I personally don't know that I'd recommend it, but the truth is that now that it's approved doctors and patients will decide if this succeeds or fails.

I'm not sure I will ever be sold on this. I feel like bariatrics are really reaching to find new methods of weight loss, but how practical are they? Is this supposed to be temporary or permanent? Is therapy a requirement with this device?

I suppose only time will tell. Everything was doubted at one point.

[Alex Brecher 10,484]

I just read a pretty balanced point of view at http://conscienhealth.org/2016/06/obesity-drain-device-approved-by-fda/

"But here’s the thing. Once you get past the yuck factor, people who use this drain device are generally quite happy with it. Physicians and surgeons who were initially skeptical are surprised by how satisfied many of their patients are with their results.

Compared to other procedures and devices, it appears to be very safe and pretty easy to reverse. And people lose about 12% of their total body weight with it on average. That’s more than the average response to drugs and lifestyle therapy. It’s less than the typical response to a gastric sleeve or bypass surgery. The manufacturer claims that the costs will be significantly less than for bariatric surgeries. Finally, though, because it’s new, the long term outcomes are not yet fully known.

So you can expect to hear lots of jokes about this drain device, just as many people are still derisive about bariatric surgery. Be careful about dismissing it prematurely, though. It may turn out to be quite helpful for a significant segment of people living with obesity. Long-term data will tell us much more."

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[jess9395 5,448]

I've read this post and agree that I don't want to waste food, but how is this different than ordering food at a dinner with friends and only eating 1/4? After a 5 day trip with my husband, who was expected to eat his dinner and the leftover 3/4 of mine, I wonder what the right solution is.

Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

it's different because you aren't doing it three times a day (or more) 7 times a week.

The port limits you to 3 aspirations per day. After 30 Aspirations you need a new port and must return to your surgeon for follow up in order to get another. This limits abuse. You can't get around that. Not taking a side. Just want the right information out there.

Okay so I amend my "or more" my point still stands.

[needtorecover 574]

I just read a pretty balanced point of view at http://conscienhealth.org/2016/06/obesity-drain-device-approved-by-fda/

"But here’s the thing. Once you get past the yuck factor, people who use this drain device are generally quite happy with it. Physicians and surgeons who were initially skeptical are surprised by how satisfied many of their patients are with their results.

Compared to other procedures and devices, it appears to be very safe and pretty easy to reverse. And people lose about 12% of their total body weight with it on average. That’s more than the average response to drugs and lifestyle therapy. It’s less than the typical response to a gastric sleeve or bypass surgery. The manufacturer claims that the costs will be significantly less than for bariatric surgeries. Finally, though, because it’s new, the long term outcomes are not yet fully known.

So you can expect to hear lots of jokes about this drain device, just as many people are still derisive about bariatric surgery. Be careful about dismissing it prematurely, though. It may turn out to be quite helpful for a significant segment of people living with obesity. Long-term data will tell us much more."

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Under the right care, with the right education and with an ethical doctor I could see this being beneficial. But some quack could open a clinic in LA and advertise this device to hungry women with a little pudge promising a thin, taut body while being able to eat as much cake and ice cream as they'd like. I guess you could argue the same thing for bariatric surgery, but there's just something that seems off about this type of procedure.

To me, it's the moral wrongness of consuming more food than you need to purge it later. Certainly, I'm guilty myself of eating more food than I need which is why I got fat in the first place. But I had the sense to feel terrible about it later just because I felt like I was feeding my hedonistic pleasure centers rather than nourishing my body (partially why I sought a restrictive procedure in the first place).

I still don't understand how this would effect long-term change as well. If I had to take my lap band out I'd do a revision at the same time because I know if I don't have my band I will go back to my old ways. This seems similar to the balloon in that sense (though the balloon doesn't cause food waste).

I'm not sold on it but I could see its applications being beneficial in certain cases. I just worry about abuse because even though there are safeguards in place, I'm sure someone out there could tamper with it and turn it into an efficient bulimia device, market it to people who shouldn't have it, and make a bunch of money.

[theantichick 2,204]

I read about this several months ago, and as a nurse am horrified. Yes, we have lots of patients who have tubes into their stomachs for long periods of time without infection and such, so that part is fine But maintaining those tubes is a royal PITA. They hang on clothes and get pulled out, clog, and have no ends of problems. And that's just with liquids going IN. While I can see that this is slightly better than becoming bulimic because you don't have stomach acid in your throat and mouth, it just feels like medically induced bulimia without the erosion. Ugh.

[Pinkberry2 128]

Ummmmm no ???????????? your basically bulimic

Little tia

[gina171 626]

A direct port to my insides through which staph, bacteria, and more can enter my body. Sepsis, anyone?

I think not.

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