Vancouver-based Wat Medical demonstrated at this month’s Canadian Nutrition Society annual conference a wristband for helping wearers manage their weight.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the global prevalence of obesity has reached alarming proportions, affecting one in eight individuals worldwide. With 2.5 billion adults classified as overweight in 2022, a figure that has more than doubled since 1990, addressing this epidemic has become a global health concern.

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has identified obesity as a prevalent, serious, and costly disease, linked to numerous debilitating conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, all of which contribute to premature mortality rates.

While medical interventions for weight loss exist, such as surgical procedures or pharmaceuticals such as the FDA-approved Wegovy semaglutide injection, these options often present drawbacks including adverse side effects, inconsistent outcomes and difficulties in sustaining weight loss once treatment finishes. Studies have shown that discontinuing semaglutide injections can lead to rapid weight regain, underscoring the need for alternatives.

Wat Medical’s mission is to offer a safe and effective alternative for weight management, hence the ObeEnd wristband. Leveraging neuromodulation technology, it delivers targeted electrical impulses via PC6 to mitigate gastric secretion while enhancing post-exercise recovery. Clinical studies have demonstrated that ObeEnd results in significant reduction in caloric intake and pepsinogen-1 production.

The mechanism underlying ObeEnd’s efficacy is believed to be sympathetic inhibition, which has also demonstrated efficacy in alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting, and even reducing blood pressure levels.

The encouraging clinical results of ObeEnd mark a milestone towards the realisation of a drug-free wearable for weight management. Ongoing clinical studies, conducted in collaboration with Concordia University, aim to substantiate these findings, with additional data anticipated in the near future.

For further information on ObeEnd and Wat Medical, visit watmedical.com.