"Edible microbeads" that could be added to bubble teas and deserts could be on the horizon to help people with weight loss—much less invasively than current treatments.

Researchers have developed these microbeads made from tea polyphenols, vitamin E and seaweed that, when consumed, bind to fats in the gastrointestinal tract.

Preliminary test results from rats fed with high-fat diets suggest this creative and more natural approach to weight loss may be safer and more accessible than surgery or pharmaceuticals.

"Losing weight can help some people prevent long-term health issues like diabetes and heart disease," said author Yue Wu of Sichuan University in a statement.

Wu presented her team's results at the ACS Fall 2025 Digital Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

"Our microbeads wo

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