Ozempic rival: Study finds weak electrical currents to the brain can stop binge eating
Weight-loss jab Ozempic might be all the rage, but experts may have landed upon another radical way to shed the kilograms.
They suggest zapping your brain with electricity, which they say can be successfully used to treat binge-eating.
The study found this gentle brain stimulation technique – emitting a weak electrical current through a special head cap that can be worn at home – targets patterns of behaviour that might contribute to the loss of control around food.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Participants who had the treatment – called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCs) – alongside a training programme designed to help reduce attention to food, saw their binge episodes fall from 20 times a month to six times a month, within the space of six weeks.
They also reported losing up to 4kg in the period from the start of the study to the six-week follow-up.
Dr Michaela Flynn, from King’s College London, said the results of the study were encouraging.
“Participants commented that their mood felt lighter, which may be a key part of why they reported changes in eating behaviour and weight loss that lasted for some time after treatment ended,” she said.
“Our findings are encouraging, and we want to explore this on a larger scale with more participants.”
