Madeleine Hull
Diet pills have had a controversial history, with only one being approved for NHS use in the UK. In 2019, the FDA approved a new weight-loss pill called Plenity, which expands in the stomach to help people feel full. The pill is made from hydrogel, cellulose (a type of fibre), and citric acid. While the pill has been approved for people with a BMI of 25 to 40, some experts have cautioned that it should be used alongside diet and exercise. This pill is not the only innovation in the weight-loss space, with researchers from MIT also developing an ingestible, expanding pill that can monitor a patient's health for up to a month.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the pill | Plenity, also known as Plentity |
| Manufacturer | Gelesis, a Boston biotech company |
| Composition | Hydrogel capsule made with cellulose (a type of fiber) and citric acid |
| Function | Expands in the stomach to help people feel full with less food |
| Target Group | People with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 40, including overweight and obese categories |
| Side Effects | Tummy side effects, increased bowel movements |
| Precautions | To be used alongside diet and exercise |
| Availability | Prescription-only pill |
| Results | About 60% of people taking Plenity lost at least 5% of their body weight after 6 months of use |
| Alternatives | Qsymia, Contrave, vibrating diet pill, gastric balloon diet |
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What You'll Learn
The vibrating diet pill
In 2019, the FDA approved a new weight loss pill called Plenity (or Plentity), created by Boston biotech company Gelesis. It is a hydrogel capsule made with cellulose and citric acid that expands in the stomach to help the user feel full with less food. However, this is not the only kind of diet pill that has been developed.
A team of researchers from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a vibrating diet pill that may trick the stomach into feeling full. The pill carries a tiny motor and battery. A gel plug in the pill keeps the motor from switching on, but the gel dissolves rapidly when it comes into contact with stomach fluid, allowing the motor to start turning. The pill then vibrates for about 38 minutes, which is roughly the amount of time it would stay in the stomach. The researchers hypothesized that these vibrations would stimulate the stretch-sensing nerve endings and signal satiety.
To test the pill, the team inserted it into the stomachs of young pigs that were about the same size and weight as humans. They found that the vibrations spurred a very similar firing pattern as expanding the animals' stomachs with air. The pigs with the pills were less active, especially after meals, and the researchers did not detect any other possible side effects such as inflammation of the stomach lining, diarrhea, and vomiting.
While the vibrating diet pill shows promise, researchers need to answer several questions before they can transform the pill into a useful weight loss option. For example, it is unclear what a vibrating pill will feel like in a person's stomach, and whether the pill can be turned into a practical weight loss therapy. The size of the capsules is also a significant obstacle, as they are as large as the biggest capsules currently available, and patients would likely have to swallow two each day to control their appetite.
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The pill's effectiveness
The effectiveness of diet pills can be measured in several ways, including the percentage of weight lost, the suppression of hunger, and the maintenance of weight loss. The diet pill Plenity, also known as Plentity, is designed to help people lose weight by expanding in their stomachs, giving them a feeling of fullness. In initial studies, about 60% of people taking Plenity lost at least 5% of their body weight after 6 months of use. This is comparable to other weight-loss pills on the market, such as Contrave, which helped more than 40% of adults lose at least 5% of their body weight in initial studies.
Plenity is a prescription-only pill that has been approved by the FDA for use by people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 40, including those who are overweight or obese. The pill is designed to be taken three times a day, 20 minutes before a meal, with two glasses of water. It contains hydrogel, made from cellulose and citric acid, which expands in the stomach to fill about a quarter of its volume. This mechanical method of expanding in the stomach to induce a feeling of fullness has been compared to weight loss surgery, which decreases the room in the stomach, without the invasiveness or cost of surgery.
Plenity has also been shown to be effective in helping people with diabetes or prediabetes to get better control over their blood sugar levels. Among participants with pre-diabetes or lifestyle-treated type two diabetes, people taking the active pills were 6 times more likely to lose 10% of their baseline weight by the end of the study. Additionally, people who were prediabetic or had diabetes that was treated with diet were more likely to have a significant drop in their fasting glucose and insulin levels.
However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of weight-loss pills is often dependent on combining them with lifestyle changes, such as a nutritious diet and routine exercise. Additionally, the long-term effectiveness of Plenity is yet to be determined, as preliminary studies do not always translate to sustained weight loss. Furthermore, while Plenity may be effective for some, it is not a "magic bullet," and it may not be the safest or most effective option for everyone. Individual responses to medications vary, and it is always important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or weight-loss program.
Another approach to weight loss that has been explored is the use of vibrating diet pills, which aim to stimulate nerve endings in the stomach to signal satiety to the brain. While this method has shown promising results in pigs, with no obvious side effects, it has not yet been developed into a practical weight loss therapy for humans. The size of the capsules and the uncertainty of how they would feel in a person's stomach are some of the challenges that researchers need to address before they can be transformed into a useful weight-loss option.
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FDA approval
In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new weight-loss device called Plenity (or Plentity). Created by Boston biotech company Gelesis, it is a hydrogel capsule made with cellulose (a type of fibre) and citric acid.
Plenity is designed to be taken as a pill and expands in the stomach to help the user feel full and eat less without changing their diet or behaviour. The cellulose breaks down as it passes through the intestines and the large bowel and is excreted with bowel movements. It is not a medication and does not enter the bloodstream.
The FDA's approval of Plenity was notable because it was approved for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 40, including those in the overweight category. Previously, weight-loss drugs were only approved for people with a BMI above 30, or those in the obese category. The FDA cautioned that Plenity must be used alongside diet and exercise.
Plenity is not the only weight-loss medication to receive FDA approval. The FDA has approved several prescription weight-loss medications, including Contrave, Qsymia, and liraglutide (Saxenda). These medications are most effective when combined with a nutritious diet and routine exercise.
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Side effects
The diet pill that expands in the stomach, Plenity (also known as Plentity or Gelesis 100), has been associated with several side effects. Firstly, tummy side effects were common, with 43% in the active pill group experiencing them compared to 34% in the placebo group. This is due to the cellulose in the pill, which expands to fill the stomach and can cause bloating and increased bowel movements as it breaks down and is excreted.
Another potential side effect is muscle loss, which is a common issue with weight loss drugs. Eating more protein while taking the pill may help prevent this. Additionally, there is a risk of dehydration, as the pill soaks up a large amount of water.
Furthermore, some participants in studies experienced difficulty adhering to the required lifestyle changes, such as eating moderately, exercising regularly, and drinking water. These changes can be challenging, and one-quarter of participants dropped out of the study in both the active pill and placebo groups.
It is important to note that the long-term side effects of Plenity are not yet fully known, as preliminary studies were only six months long. While the pill has shown promising results, long-term data is crucial for understanding its effectiveness and potential side effects over time.
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Patient suitability
The diet pill that expands in the stomach is designed for adults who are considered overweight or obese. The pill is not suitable for those who are underweight or within a healthy weight range. The pill is also not intended to be a standalone solution for weight loss, and should be used in conjunction with a nutritious diet and routine exercise.
The pill is designed to help individuals feel full with less food, and it is important for users to know their eating patterns and be willing to change them. For example, eating most of their food at lunch and dinner, and avoiding snacks or sugary drinks.
The pill is not suitable for individuals who are unable or unwilling to make these dietary changes. It is also not suitable for those who are unable to exercise for 30 minutes a day.
The pill may be beneficial for individuals with pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, as it can help them get better control over their blood sugar levels. However, it is important to note that the pill is not a substitute for medical treatment for these conditions.
The vibrating version of the diet pill, which is currently being studied, may be a gentler and more affordable option for weight loss compared to procedures such as stomach surgery. However, it is still in the early stages of development and it is unclear whether it will be practical for human use.
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Frequently asked questions
Plenity, also known as Plentity, is a hydrogel capsule made with cellulose and citric acid.
The pill absorbs water and swells in the stomach, promoting feelings of fullness. It does not enter the bloodstream and starts to break down after it reaches the large intestine.
The pill has been approved for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 40, including those in the overweight and obese categories.
The pill has been approved by the FDA and is considered safe. However, it should be used alongside diet and exercise. Common side effects include increased bowel movements and decreased activity levels.
Plenity is a prescription-only pill, so it can be obtained through a healthcare professional. It is expected to be marketed and available in early 2020.
