Thousands of people underwent weight loss surgery last year, opting for either gastric bypass or other procedures that limit the amount of food their body can take. Many, however, are afraid to go under the knife due to fears about pain, recovery, or side effects. A small study, however, may attract those patients to a new kind of surgery -- cutting the vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve runs from the brain into the abdomen and it plays a role in how hungry a person feels. Cutting it where it meets the stomach used to be a common procedure for ulcer patients before the era of acid-reducing drugs. Now surgeons are running a small study to find out if it could aid in weight loss, with interesting results. A year into the 18-month study, 11 patients have lost about 18% of their weight. It's not the dramatic weight loss seen with gastric bypass, but it's weight loss nonetheless. All but one reported reduced hunger.

No one thinks that this is going to be the next big thing in weight loss, but if the studies prove that cutting the vagus nerve does work, it may be an option for those who need a little extra help, but are afraid to undergo major surgery.