The little diet pill that will leave you as stuffed as spaghetti

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The pill contains an absorbent substance which expands by more than 1,000 times when combined with water - making dieters feel full.

Its creators, who discovered the absorbent ingredient while testing materials for nappy linings, liken the sensation to "eating a nice plate of spaghetti".

The as yet unnamed pill was tested on just 20 subjects last month and the results of further trials are not due until October.

But the team behind it from the Institute for Composite and Biomedical Materials at Italy's National Research Council claim it will be on the market by May next year.

Experts remain unconvinced, however, warning that the pill - which also contains the indigestible fibre cellulose - could delay the emptying of the stomach and damage its lining.

Any slow-down in the progress of food through the gut also increases the risk of stomach and bowel cancers.

Experts predict that 12.6million Britons will be classed as obese by 2010.