HealthWatch

Researchers Create Platform That Shakes Away Fat

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Researchers on Long Island have made a remarkable breakthrough in weight loss. They say they've discovered a way to reduce fat and increase muscle mass by, literally, shaking away the fat.

The campus of Stony Brook University is abuzz with worldwide attention on the incredible finding.

"My sister who lives in northern Italy called me this morning to say my picture is in her newspaper today," said Stony Brook researcher Dr. Stefan Judex.

At the Center for Biotechnology, Dr. Judex explained "the buzz" is literally about a buzz, that is, a low buzz generated through a square platform that led to healthier bones and less fat in mice. The vibration is at such a low frequency, it's barely discernable.

After 15 minutes a day, five days a week, for 15 weeks, the mice used in the experiment had 27 percent less fat, and 27 percent more bone than mice that did not stand on the platform.

Stony Brook scientist Dr. Clinton Rubin then used the method on turkeys, and just like the mice did, the turkeys also gained healthier bone mass. Dr. Rubin then patented the vibrating platform when abdominal scans showed vibrated animals were also resulting in a smaller percentage of fat, including less visceral fat and less subcutaneous fat.

"Either this is this is the coolest thing over, or we are totally nuts," said Stony Brook researcher Dr. Kim Luu.

At first, Luu was among the skeptics and didn't believe the experiment would work. But it was, and researchers wondered why. Are the mice frightened, so expending more energy?

The National Institute of Health was so intrigued, it plans to fund a clinical trial on humans.

Dr Rubin wonders if standing on the plates will work on human bones. Can a person overdose? Is it safe? Could it ever become a magic bullet for fat?

"It is not melting away fat. You will still have to exercise, but it seems to prevent new fat cells from forming," said Dr. Judex.

At least 200 elderly people in assisted living -- whose bone marrow has filled with fat, and bone density is thin and lacey -- have volunteered for the human trial, eager to solve the riddle to better bones and less fat. Only time will tell if the device will be just as successful. 

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