A new dental approach for reducing food intake.

OBJECTIVE

A behavioral recommendation for weight loss is reduction of size of bites of food. This "proof of concept" study tested the efficacy of a new, patented, dental approach, the DDS System, for reducing food intake. This removable tool is inserted into the upper palate of the mouth, reducing the size of the oral cavity, thereby potentially reducing bite size.

RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Thirty-two adults (18 to 65 years) with BMI between 27 and 40 were randomly assigned to the control or experimental conditions. Participants ate all meals and stayed between meals at a research center. Day 1 served as baseline for both groups. On Day 2, experimental participants utilized the tool during meals. Changes in subjective ratings of hunger and satiety were measured using visual analog scales before and after each meal.

RESULTS

Food intake difference scores were calculated for each participant (Day 2 - Day 1). Analysis of covariance on difference scores, using baseline as a covariate, showed that the experimental group ate significantly less (p < 0.05) on the second day (M = -659.2 kcal/d) compared with the control group (M = -125.9 kcal/d). Analysis of covariance, with ratings on Day 1 as a covariate, revealed that the experimental and control group did not differ on visual analog scale difference scores (premeal - postmeal) from Day 1 to Day 2.

DISCUSSION

These findings suggest that use of this tool during meals significantly reduced food intake. This reduction of food intake was not associated with changes in ratings of hunger or satiety.