Dental device may help with weight loss
August 9, 2004
By Marjorie Wertz
Pilar Kerestan has a habit shared by many Americans. She eats too fast.
"I'm interested in changing the way I eat so I can avoid the problems that weight gain can cause as I get older," said the 42-year-old Greensburg resident. "I have to think of how my health will be 20 years from now."
During a recent visit to the office of her dentist, Dr. Vance Barber, of Greensburg, Kerestan read a pamphlet on a new behavioral modification device called the DDS System available through certified dentists.
It piqued her interest.
The system, founded by Scientific Intake, is an oral insert custom-made for each individual that reduces the size of the oral cavity, thereby limiting the bite size of food and requiring the wearer to eat more slowly.
"Eating slowly allows you to feel satisfied with
less food," said Barber, one of the country's 2,500
dentists certified in the DDS System. "Recent studies
show that people are getting obese. As a dentist, I'm
concerned about the general health of my patients. This
device trains the user to eat slower, take smaller bites
and become more aware of the food they're eating. We're
trying to retrain people to eat more slowly so they
feel full quicker and lose
weight."
"But it's a slow, gradual process," Barber said.
Similar to a retainer but with no wires that attach to the teeth, the DDS System is made of thick plastic that is inserted into the mouth before eating.
"An impression is made of the roof of the mouth," said Barber, who has been a dentist since 1980. "Once the device is made and fitted, it serves as a tool for patients to start to control their eating."
Barber not only fits the $450 device on his patients, he also wears the DDS System himself during meals. The system is not covered by medical insurance.
"I used to be very active, exercising at the YMCA, playing basketball, but I've slowed down over the past several years and my weight was becoming a factor in my overall health," said Barber, 50. "This device is for those 18 and over who don't have an eating disorder. We're focusing on the health issues of Americans, not their body image. We're after the population who wants to take control of their lives and be healthier.
"If you go on a special diet or do gastric bypass surgery, these things alter your lifestyle one way or another. But with this device, you can still sit down and enjoy food. Typically after 20 minutes of chewing small bites, you're full."
Gina Addison, a registered dietician, said the satiety factor is the controlling factor in what makes people overeat.
"Calories are still the bottom line for weight loss, and I think there are preferred ways to take in those calories to maintain a level of satisfaction and still have balanced nutrition," said Addison, of Delmont. "This device may be just a small part of the picture. There may still need to be some other behavioral modifications, such as what foods you're eating."
Chewing gum, instead of eating potato chips, and drinking a diet beverage or water can also help a person lose weight, Addison said.
"A lot of people do eat too fast," she added. "Chewing food longer and eating slower does make sense. The key is slow, gradual weight loss and people willing to change their lifestyles to include being more physically active, changing what they eat and changing their habits."
Kerestan found that the DDS System has helped her modify her eating habits.
"It took some time to get used to it," she said. "I started taking a regular bite of food and it was more than I could handle. I had to begin taking smaller bites and, as a result, it took me a long time to finish my meal. I didn't go for seconds. By the time I finished what I had, my own appetite suppressant told me I was full. If I didn't have the device, I would have eaten more."
Because it is custom-fitted, the device is comfortable. It takes only a couple of meals for the wearer to become accustomed to it. Barber and Kerestan both said because it slowed down the process of eating, they were able to fully enjoy the taste of their food.
"Our fast-paced lifestyles also contribute to eating foods that aren't good for you," Barber said. "You appreciate the food more when you slow down to eat.
"People who have successful weight loss have an exercise program and cut back food by 500 calories a day. You must have the commitment in order for the system to work. This is a system that will change the way people eat, not what they eat."
Kerestan said the DDS System makes sense.
"I've tried a lot of different diets. Because it's too drastic of a change in eating habits, I end up cheating. It becomes no diet at all," she said. "I intend to use the device for meals where I overeat, including dinner and snacking in the evenings. That's where I have a problem."
Source:www.pittsburghlive.com
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