Pill targets obesity by swelling in stomach

DOCTORS last night hailed a new pill that helps obese patients lose up to 10% of their weight.

The pill, called Gelesis100, is made from the vegetable extract cellulose. Once in the stomach, it absorbs water to swell up to 100 times its original size, helping to suppress hunger. The particles gradually disintegrate and are passed through the body.

The pills are set to be available to doctors within two years.

During a trial at Liverpool’s Aintree University Hospital, a fifth of adults lost 10% or more of their weight within six months.

Researchers also noticed a fall in blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Professor John Wilding, who ran the trial, said: ‘It’s a simple idea and it has the benefit of not being a drug. You take it, it sits in your stomach and you feel fuller.’