Slimming wires, more commonly known as jaw wiring, represent an unconventional method for weight loss that saw a surge in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s. This method involves using orthodontic wires to limit jaw movement, essentially preventing the consumption of solid food and compelling individuals to adhere to a liquid-only diet. While jaw wiring can produce quick results, it is ultimately a temporary solution.
A Historical Perspective on Jaw Wiring
Jaw wiring emerged as a popular weight loss technique in the 1970s and 1980s, a time when options for treating obesity were far more limited than they are today. The procedure’s simplicity and non-surgical nature made it appealing to both patients and healthcare providers. For many, the promise of rapid weight loss was compelling. However, over time, the popularity of jaw wiring began to decline due to varied long-term success and physical and psychological considerations.
Interestingly, the concept of restricting food intake for weight management dates back centuries. In a municipality of Leon, Spain, King Sancho the 1st, plagued by severe obesity, was treated by Hasadi, who kept his mouth sewn shut for 2 months, save for a small opening for a straw. The king's diet consisted of a mixture of salt water, orange flower water, boiled fruits and vegetables, herbs, wine, and multiple opiates. This drastic measure proved effective, enabling him to regain his mobility and strength.
The Mechanics of Jaw Wiring
The mechanics of jaw wiring are straightforward. During the procedure, orthodontic wires or bands are placed around the teeth, effectively binding the upper and lower jaws together. This wiring restricts the movement of the jaw, allowing only minimal mouth opening. The actual wiring is performed in a dental chair and usually takes less than an hour. Following the procedure, the patient is restricted to a liquid diet. With the jaw wired shut, patients often find it challenging to speak clearly.
The Appeal of Jaw Wiring
Several factors contributed to the initial appeal of jaw wiring:
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- Non-Surgical Approach: Unlike bariatric surgery, jaw wiring does not involve any surgical intervention.
- Perceived Simplicity: The procedure's simplicity and non-surgical nature made it appealing to both patients and healthcare providers.
- Rapid Weight Loss: For many, the promise of rapid weight loss was compelling.
The Downsides of Jaw Wiring
Despite its initial appeal, jaw wiring has several significant drawbacks:
- Varied Long-Term Success: While jaw wiring could produce quick results, the long-term success varied.
- Physical and Psychological Considerations: The procedure caused significant discomfort for many patients. The inability to eat solid food and the constant reminder of the wires can lead to feelings of frustration, deprivation, and even stress.
- Nutritional Imbalance: A liquid diet may require careful planning to ensure all necessary nutrients are consumed.
- Physical Adaptation: The physical restriction of the jaw can cause initial discomfort, particularly in the initial stages of the treatment.
- Difficulty in Speech: With the jaw wired shut, patients often find it challenging to speak clearly.
- Emotional Adjustment: The inability to eat solid food and the constant reminder of the wires can lead to feelings of frustration, deprivation, and even stress.
- Behavioral Considerations: For some patients, the extreme nature of jaw wiring can contribute to the need for long-term behavioral changes once the wires are removed.
The Risks of Jaw Wiring
There can be some risks of jaw wiring. These include:
- Choking while your jaw is wired. This can occur for many reasons, including if you vomit or cannot breathe. You must carry wire cutters with you at all times to clip the wires in your mouth if choking occurs.
- Bleeding from surgical incisions.
- Tingling or numbness in your mouth from a nerve injured during jaw surgery.
Dietary Considerations for Jaw Wiring
Following jaw wiring, patients are restricted to a liquid diet, which requires careful planning to ensure adequate nutrition. A blenderized diet is typically recommended, consisting of foods that are liquid or can be easily blended to a liquid consistency.
General Instructions
All foods must be in a liquid form, thin enough to go through a syringe or drink from a glass. You should not need to chew. Food must be strained to remove chunks of seed or fibers that can get caught in the wires. Chunks of food can lead to poor mouth care, tooth decay or choking. Clean your mouth after each meal to prevent infections.
Preparing Blenderized Food
Supplies: Blender, or food processor or food mill, Fine wire strainer, Wire whip or fork, Plastic container with labels for freezing.
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Use cooked foods. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables, and tough or gristly meats, as they are difficult to puree. Avoid nuts, seeds, whole grain or bran cereals, starches, and foods with tough skins or hulls. Cream soups, strained Fruit juice Tomato or vegetable juice Ice cream without nuts Smooth yogurt without fruit or nuts Clear soups Broth Half & half Sour cream Cream Milk Strained baby food and baby cereal may be used from the jar without further blending or straining. Junior foods should be blenderized. Solid fats and cheese blend more easily if they are first melted. Oil, salad dressing and cream can be added directly to the puree. Frozen desserts and gelatin must be melted to a liquid before they can be eaten. Eat balanced meals that are adequate in calories, protein, vitamins, minerals and fluid. This is not the time to lose extra weight. Surgery is a stress that causes extra work for your body. To fight infection and heal wounds, your body needs more calories and protein than it normally would. Eat various foods from all the food groups in order to get a balanced diet adequate in vitamins, minerals, and protein. If you are unable to eat an adequate variety of foods daily, you should consider taking a liquid multivitamin/mineral supplement which provides 100% of the RDA. For additional calories, eat extra servings from the four food groups and include fats, sweets, desserts and supplements.
Basic Food Groups
- Milk Group: (2 cups or equivalent a day) Drink whole or skim milk, low-fat buttermilk, or smooth yogurt. Milk is used as a beverage or to thin cream soups or ice cream for milkshakes. Make pudding and custard with double the usual amount of milk so it is thin.
- Meat Group: (6 ounces of meat or more, or 3 jars of baby food or 1½ cups strained pureed meat a day) Meat, poultry, fish and eggs are part of the meat group. Cook meats until they are soft. Liquefy in a blender until the desired consistency. Avoid using raw eggs to prevent the chance of food poisoning; use a pasteurized egg product instead of fresh eggs. Cottage cheese must be blenderized. Melt pasteurized processed cheese, cream, Parmesan or cheddar cheeses before serving. Some cheeses may be too stringy when melted to pass through the jaw wires. Avoid fried meats or eggs, meats or cheeses with casings or whole spices or seeds, and tough meats with a lot of cartilage.
- Fruits and Vegetables: (2 cups or more a day) Fruit juices provide the easiest way to include fruit in the diet. Include a serving (1/2 cup) of orange, grapefruit, or tomato juice each day for Vitamin C. Liquefy soft fruits or canned fruits in a blender. Strain and thin these fruits with compatible fruit juice. Cook vegetables until tender and liquefy in a blender. Strain and thin them to the desired consistency. Avoid fruits and vegetables with seeds, such as berries or tomatoes. Tough skins or hulls on vegetables should be avoided. This includes corn, lima beans, and dried or raw fruits and vegetables.
- Breads and Cereals: (4 servings a day - 2 cups) Thin refined, enriched cooked cereals such as Farina, Grits, Malt-O-Meal, Cream of Wheat, or Cream of Rice with milk. Mash cooked white or sweet potatoes and thin with milk. Soups with noodles, rice, or vegetables may be liquefied in a blender. Use gravy, strained sauces or soup to thin enriched white rice and pasta made from refined, enriched flour. Avoid whole grain or bran cereals and starches with nuts or seeds. Do not eat cooked dried beans unless they are split and the hulls removed (split peas, split lentils).
It is common for weight to vary 2-3 pounds a week. If you lose 5 pounds or more in one week call your doctor or dietitian. You probably are not eating or drinking enough.
Supplements
Use one of the following supplements available in most grocery or drug stores if you need high calories. You can also increase calories by adding any of the following to blenderized foods: Melted butter, margarine, cream cheese or shortening Vegetable oil, mayonnaise and smooth salad dressing Strained gravy and cream sauces Sugar, honey, plain syrups Melted smooth peanut butter
Season blenderized foods with salt, ground pepper, any ground spice, and seasoned salts. Use condiments that don’t have whole spices in them such as prepared mustard, catsup, steak sauce or Tabasco sauce. Avoid anything that has bacon bits, whole spices, seeds, nuts or coconut in it.
High Protein Milkshake Recipe
½ cup ice cream without nuts ½ cup milk 2 Tbsp. skim milk powder Make a paste of the milk and powder. Mix until smooth. Add ice cream and beat with mixer or blender. Flavor as desired.
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Foods should be refrigerated or frozen within an hour after preparation. Blenderized foods are an excellent medium for the growth of bacteria. Extra portions can be frozen in meal size amounts in covered ice cube trays.
If straws are allowed, plastic straws that have flexible tips are easier to use and are wider in diameter. It may be helpful to cut 1-2 inches off of the straw because shorter straws require less suction.
The Decline of Jaw Wiring
Several factors contributed to the decline of jaw wiring as a weight loss method:
- Poor Dental Hygiene: Patients often experienced poor dental hygiene while having their mouths wired shut, leading to tooth decay and other dental problems.
- Psychiatric Issues: Prolonged use of jaw wiring could result in severe psychiatric issues, with patients reporting feelings of guilt and shame.
- Criticism from Experts: Eating disorder experts, nutritionists, and the public criticized jaw wiring as a "fat shaming" tactic.
Modern Alternatives to Jaw Wiring
In recent decades, bariatric surgery has become a highly effective option for treating severe obesity. Today, weight management is viewed through a more comprehensive lens, with a focus on sustainable lifestyle changes, nutritional education, and behavioral therapy. While jaw wiring may still be used in some cases, it is generally not the primary strategy for weight loss.
Jaw Wiring in the 21st Century
Despite its drawbacks, jaw wiring has seen some attempts at revival in recent years. However, these attempts have been met with criticism and concern from healthcare professionals.
A recent study involving seven patients wearing a modified jaw wiring device for about two weeks showed that participants lost about fourteen pounds. However, experts caution that such rapid weight loss is unlikely to be the result of fat burning and may lead to the loss of healthy lean muscle.