Effect of Acute ObeEnd Exposure on Factors Regulating Appetite

Concordia University, Montreal30 enrolled

Overview

n Canada, over 60% of adults are classified as overweight and obese resulting in a public health crisis including increasing health care costs and negatively impacting the well-being of many Canadians. To overcome these barriers, the ObeEnd device, manufactured by WAT Medical Enterprise, is a new and innovative wellness technology that uses electrical pulses to stimulate acupressure point PC6 to help control appetite. PC6 stimulation could potentially modulate appetite and restore gastric dysfunction, which are important factors that contribute to obesity. If PC6 electrostimulation facilitates the normalization of appetite and restoration of gastric dysfunction in those with obesity, then the device could be a potentially helpful aid to weight loss. To measure the change of appetite hormones and enzymes related to appetite regulation after using the ObeEnd device. The investigators hypothesize that, compared to placebo, acute electrostimulation of PC6 an acupuncture spot on the wrist for a 1 hour period will result in changes in enterogastric hormones in a direction that decreases appetite. This study will provide the first evidence of the acute effects of electrostimulation at PC6 on factors affecting body weight regulation providing insight into the utility of the ObeEnd device for weight control.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * People with obesity (BMI\>30kg/m2) * Generally healthy * Premenopausal females Exclusion Criteria: * Past (\<1 year) or present use of nicotine products * History of chronic disease or metabolic conditions * Females who are pregnant, less than 6 months postpartum, or breastfeeding * Diagnosed hepatic disease, renal impairment, uncontrolled hypothyroidism * Use of any medications that may affect study outcomes (e.g. hormone replacement therapy)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Appetite assessment

Perceived appetite as reported based on the Visual Analog Scale after a standardized mixed meal. Appetite will be assessed every 30 minutes over a 2 hour period post meal consumption, at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. The Visual Analog Scale is a measure of appetite based on a 10 cm line. Participants are asked a question on how they feel about a specific aspect of appetite (e.g. hunger). Participants then place a mark on the line. A mark closer to the left indicates fullness and satiation and a mark closer to the right indicates hunger.

Time frame: Baseline to 4 hours

Blood Hormones

Fasting blood hormone levels will be measured prior to stimulation, and every 30 minutes over a 2 hour period post meal consumption, (at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes). Blood hormones involved in appetite and motility such as ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1, motilin, and pepsinogen-1 will be measured via ELISA.

Time frame: Baseline to 4 hours

Secondary Outcomes

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure will be measured (mmHg)

Time frame: Baseline to after stimulation, on average 1 hour

Heart rate

Heart rate will be measured (beats per minute)