In the discussion of weight loss, the idea of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) for controlling hunger has been raised, but it poses surgical risks and ethical concerns. Elon Musk, owner of Neuralink, has remained a major supporter of brain-chip technology.
“I think you can solve a very wide range of brain injuries,” Musk said, “including severe depression, morbid obesity, sleep [disorders and] restoring memory in older people.”
However, a seemingly safer alternative exists in the form of a new class of drugs known as “glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists” (GLP-1s), which have been approved by the FDA for obesity treatment. (Trending: Judge Announces Historic Ruling In Jeffrey Epstein Case)
These drugs help curb hunger without the need for invasive procedures.
While both implants and drugs hold the potential to be abused, experts emphasized the risks associated with brain implants and the historical precedent of hunger control leading to eating disorders.
Overall, the general consensus is that a drug approach seems a safer and more effective option for targeting hunger systems.
Experts suggest exhausting all options, such as trying GLP-1 drugs or traditional methods, before considering invasive brain implants for weight loss.
“The molecular approach is an effective way to target the hunger systems fairly specifically and with far less risk than an implant,” neurobiologist Samuel Hires said.
“I don’t see a realistic path to market for invasive BCI for obesity now that GLP-1 agonists have rolled out.”
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