Is the key to conquering obesity right under our noses?

I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard about the latest “miracle” to hit the weight loss market.

Then again, when you’re in the middle of a raging diabesity epidemic, any reinforcements are welcome. (Even if they straddle the line of absurdity…)

A small pilot study has apparently found that a new device called the “NozNoz™” can offer significant help with both weight loss and cravings.

With a name like that, you’re probably wondering exactly how this new device works. And let me assure you — you won’t be disappointed…

Fighting obesity, nose first

The NozNoz™ is a tiny, soft insert that goes into your nose, supposedly blocking your sense of smell without interfering with your ability to breathe. One insert lasts for two weeks, and you can wear it as long as 12 hours a day.

The device is designed to re-direct the air away from your olfactory system — which generates your sense of smell — and straight into your lungs instead.

In theory, this would help you shed pounds by curbing your appetite and reducing cravings since you won’t be able to enjoy any tantalizing aromas. (Think of the last time you tried to eat with a stuffy nose. Wasn’t too enjoyable was it? And that’s precisely the point.)

So how does the NozNoz™ hold up in practice?

Well, this study featured a total of 65 obese adults on a low-calorie diet — 37 who used the device and 28 who didn’t. The device dramatically reduced sense of smell in the subjects wearing the device, while smell stayed intact among the control group. So in that sense, at least, it worked.

But ultimately, both groups lost about the same amount of weight over the course of the 14-week study. In fact, there was less than a one percent difference between each group’s results, making it statistically insignificant.

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean the device didn’t work. And here’s why…

Your sense of smell takes a downturn with age, with significant declines starting around age 50. So when researchers confined their analysis only to younger patients, they found that the device did, in fact, deliver results. (Though it was still only a 7.7 percent weight loss with the NozNoz™ versus a 4 percent loss without it.)

They also found that the NozNoz™ slashed consumption of sugar, sugary drinks, and even artificial sweeteners pretty much across the board. And I have to say, I really can’t argue with a benefit like that. After all, as I’ve said a million times before, sugar kills.

Sniffing out the truth about sense of smell and weight loss

Many years ago when I had a radio show, I remember interviewing a doctor who wrote a book about the effect different scents can have on our bodies. And yet, this is the first time I’ve ever heard about anyone using it in this way.

But it makes perfect sense. The simple fact is, taste and smell play a huge role in how much we eat.

Studies show that food aromas, paired with a person’s individual sense of smell, can have a huge impact on both dietary preferences and calorie intake.

Not only that, but your olfactory system exists for a purpose — and that’s to trigger the release of hormones like leptin, insulin, and ghrelin. And given the role these substances play in weight management, it’s not hard to see how an altered sense of smell could translate to either gains or losses on the scale.

In fact, researchers have already linked excess weight to smell sensitivity. And more specifically, to an appetite that’s more easily triggered by delicious food aromas.

That being said, you should also know that the NozNoz™ study was fully funded by the company making the device — with the researchers being both shareholders and advisors. Enough said.

But if it’s something you want to try, don’t let my skepticism stop you. The manufacturers are peddling the NozNoz™ as a “wellness” device, not a medical one — so once it’s available, you’ll be able to buy one on your own without any kind of prescription.

In the meantime, the best way to use this news to your advantage is to prepare healthy, wholesome meals that also smell delicious.

And remember that the only magic bullet for lasting weight loss isn’t really magic at all. It’s a powerful combination of commitment and consistency. Without it, all the diets and devices in the world won’t make a difference.

Speaking of which, I talk about how you can prepare yourself to stay committed and consistent mentally, physically, and emotionally in my most recent book, The A-List Diet. And the best part — I show you that weight loss can be easy, fun, and delicious. If you’d like to learn more, or pick up your own copy, click here.

Source:

medscape.com/viewarticle/897382