Woman Receives Brain Simulation Implant To Lose Weight

WPXI Pittsburgh
Apr. 01, 2009

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Local doctors inserted an implant in a patient that will stimulate her brain, regulate her metabolism and hopefully help her lose weight.

Pamela Beach is the first patient to receive the brain stimulating implant. She said it was a last resort after trying to lose weight most of her life.

“It was very scary, but when you deal with a chronic illness all the time, I think you just reach out for any kind of hope,” said Beach.

Dr. Donald Whiting, who heads the study at West Virginia University, said the implant will provide hope for those who, try as they might, just can’t lose weight.

“By putting a regulator, a stimulator in that part of the brain, to down-regulate or up-regulate that certain part of the brain, we can affect the whole mix of hormones and neurological interactions to actually change metabolism," said Whiting.

So far, the deep brain stimulation that the device provides appears to be working -- Beach has lost 15 pounds since it was implanted in November.