iStockphoto / JohnAlexandr
Scientists have engineered a new weight-loss device. However, the contraption is more like a medieval torture device that slams a person’s jaw shut to prevent eating solid foods, and only allows the individual to consume liquids. Not that I’m against consuming liquids for meals, but this is rather strange.
Researchers from the U.K. and the University of Otago in New Zealand created the “DentalSlim Diet Control,” the “world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic: an intra-oral device that restricts a person to a liquid diet.” This reads like an article from The Onion.
The contraption uses “magnetic devices with unique custom-manufactured locking bolts” to keep people’s pieholes shut. Can this also be used for babies on three-hour flights and people who brag about CrossFit incessantly?
The weight-loss device, which is installed by a dentist, only allows the wearer to open their mouths about 2mm, restricting them to a liquid diet. Pretty much a chastity belt for your face.
Otago and UK researchers have developed a world-first weight-loss device to help fight the global obesity epidemic: an intra-oral device that restricts a person to a liquid diet. Read more: https://t.co/eLhXwipiqs pic.twitter.com/Of6v3uvVbX
— University of Otago (@otago) June 28, 2021
Um. How do you brush your teeth and floss? Also, that metal lock is going to rip someone’s teeth out when they violently sneeze.
“Participants in a Dunedin-based trial lost an average of 6.36kg in two weeks and were motivated to continue with their weight loss journey,” the university said in a press release.
Lead researcher and University of Otago Health Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Brunton said, “The main barrier for people for successful weight loss is compliance and this helps them establish new habits, allowing them to comply with a low-calorie diet for a period of time. It really kick-starts the process.”
“It is a non-invasive, reversible, economical and attractive alternative to surgical procedures,” he claimed. “The fact is, there are no adverse consequences with this device.”
No adverse consequences except for not being able to open your mouth.
Well, the internet didn’t see the alleged weight-loss device as a terrific idea, and lambasted the DentalSlim Diet Control mechanism in the Twitter reactions.
a holistic solution to obesity that focuses on its socio-economic roots and promotes access (time, cost, etc) to healthy, sustainable diets? no, let's bolt fatties' mouths shut and put them on a forced juice cleanse!
— AB ❤️1️⃣Heimat 🤍1️⃣Liebe (@archer95_35) June 28, 2021
From the paper in the British Dental Journal, "After 24 hours, the participants indicated that they occasionally felt embarrassed, self-conscious and that life, in general, was less satisfying." pic.twitter.com/3UOnheh6AM
— Sara Leiste, PhD (@SaraFeistiness) June 28, 2021
https://twitter.com/dubsteppenwolf/status/1409419842877378566
Have you considered wiring the professors fingers together so they can do less of this?
— SnarkyMcSnark (@snarky_mk) June 28, 2021
I have a better idea! 🤨 https://t.co/0WGYSlzN5R pic.twitter.com/63cqnih6se
— M. Eugenio Vázquez (@ChemBioUSC) June 30, 2021
Fuck’s sake – there was a period 40 or 50 yrs ago when they wired people’s jaws together to achieve weight loss but they abandoned it because as soon as it was removed there was weight regain. This is just an iteration of wiring jaws shut
— Nothing on here is axiomatic (@suavelyunsubtle) June 28, 2021
What if somebody needs to throw up? They just choke to death? What if the person has e.g. a heart attack and needs to be intubated quickly? This seems highly unethical.
— Natascha Strobl (@Natascha_Strobl) June 28, 2021
https://twitter.com/jelenawoehr/status/1409391974315036672
Some Twitter users presented some workarounds to the contraption that wires your mouth shut.
Thanks @otago but I'm way ahead of you. pic.twitter.com/IOfm5TZUrb
— Earthyundertones ⭐ (@Earthyundertone) June 28, 2021
I’d shove a baguette up my ass u can’t stop me https://t.co/8tt5kRZxhL
— raina (@quakerraina) June 28, 2021
Check out more strange news HERE.