In two studies in Europe, patients have successfully lost 20% of their body weight by having a pacemaker surgically implanted in their stomach to help them feel satisfied on smaller amounts of food. The device taps into the communication between the nerves around the stomach and the brain, sending a message to the brain that the body is full after only a little bit of food is eaten.

The sensor can also track when a person eats, drinks, or exercises, making it possible for them to track their progress. The batteries for the pacemaker last about five years, and patients decide how long to leave it in. So far, the only serious complication that’s been seen amongst the 65 patients using the device has been an infection related to surgery.

Though this pacemaker is authorized for sale across the EU and is manufactured by US company Intrapace, it is not expected to be available until 2014. While I think it’s a bit strange, it’s certainly intriguing, and may prove to be an alternative to other weight loss surgeries that are irreversible.

You can read more here.

What do you think about this kind of weight-loss device? Do you think it can help a person change their eating habits as they lose weight, or do you think it’s a temporary fix?