Slimmers shed more weight while wearing nose plugs

SLIMMERS could boost their weight loss by using nose plugs to block the smell of food, research suggests.

Trials showed overweight adults who wore the devices lost twice as much weight as others trying to diet.

The inventors said the plugs appeared to be particularly effective in stopping the desire for sweet foods.

Participants were asked to wear “scent blockers” daily for 12 weeks while trying to cut their calorie intake.

Those given the gadgets lost more than 18lb on average, compared with a weight loss of 9lb 8oz among the rest of the dieters.

The silicon inserts – known as Noznoz – can be worn for up 12 hours a day and work by blocking smells, while allowing users to breathe normally.

Dr Dror Dicker, the product’s inventor from the Rabin Medical Centre in Israel, said his team was inspired to develop the device after realising people with colds had a reduced appetite.

The research, on 29 adults with an average starting weight of 17st, found those who used the plugs were far better at sticking to instructions to cut their daily intake by 500 calories.

Dr Dicker said the device “blunts smelling but still facilitates breathing”. He added: “Our pilot trial found the device significantly decreased the ability to smell.

“Those who used the device used much less sugar, artificially sweetened and sugary drinks and alcohol. We are optimistic this can be one of the solutions to obesity.”

Adva Beck, a developer, said the device, which will initially cost £67 per month online, worked by blocking out the smells that trigger hunger and by altering hormone levels that affect appetite.