dr. lewis zironi says that although device is still in early testing, it seems to have long-lasting effects look at the pilot studies, the average weight loss was about 20% of total body weight. that's equivalent to lap-band surgery. >> reporter: mind you, the lap-band surgery squeezes the stomach with a silicone band, which is not to be confused with gastric bypass, which reroutes your small intestine to a smaller stomach pouch. and of course, there's the slee sleeve, which basically removed 85% of her stomach. >> i've lost 83 pounds. >> reporter: compared to those other forms of bar yacht risurg less costly and not permit innocent. but that doesn't make it less controversial. >> we want people to be normal. we want them to enjoy the quality of their life. we don't want them attached to a bathroom or a syringe. >> reporter: this doctor doesn't think feeding tube option will be as effective in quieting the brain's hunger signals to the stomach. he doubts the device will work long-term, like surgical methods do, in changing patients' eating habits. >> reporter: the researchers say the initia