Electronic fork helps you slim
French inventor creates a stir on US TV as he aims to persuade Americans to eat slowly
A FRENCH inventor’s fork that helps you slim has been one of the hits at the world's biggest consumer technology show, CES 2013 in Las Vegas.
The electronic Hapifork gives a warning if you are eating too fast – as scientists in Japan and the US say the benefits of eating slowly include weight loss, better digestion and a reduction of gastric reflux.
Invented by biomedical engineer Jacques Lépine, the chunky Hapifork monitors your eating habits and vibrates if you move to take another mouthful too soon.
However, it looks as if it could do with slimming a bit as the fork, made in France by Paris company Slow Control, weighs in at 65g and measures 200mm.
It was featured on several US news reports on the CES 2013 expo, one of the year’s biggest events for electronic and hi-tech launches. It will sell in the US for $99 and comes with an electronic coaching program, mobile app and Bluetooth link. It will be available in late summer.
The Bluetooth software tells you how long you took to eat your meal, the number of "fork servings" and the delay between each mouthful.
Distributors Hapilab say that doctors see the Hapifork as a non-intrusive way to helping people cut their eating speed – plus there are no allergic reactions or side-effects such as with slimming pills.
Screengrab - ABC TV news - CES in 60
