The NHS has resorted to entertaining the idea of using talking plates in order to aid the fight against obesity. This is not such a new idea believe it or not and despite how novel it sounds, the mandometer has been proven to be successful in the past for treating of eating disorders and will now hopefully help obese people lose weight and prevent obesity in those at risk. The plate is costly however. At approximately £1,500 per plate, it works to both monitor the amount of food one eats and the speed at which the food is eaten. In addition, the device asks questions relating to how full one is or, if the eater is eating too fast then the plate will ask the person to slow down.
600 families who have at least one obese parent and one obese child will take part in this study. A separate trial will take place assessing 12 adults and children who are unable to tell when they are full due to a genetic mutation.
Trials in other countries have demonstrated that after one year participants ate between 12 % and 15% less than they did at the trials outset. The Food and Drug Administration approved this device for treating eating disorders in 2011. If this goes ahead on a wide scale there will be public outcry at the cost of this device to the public purse.