WASHINGTON (AP) -- A new weight loss device offers a novel approach to cutting calories: draining them from the stomach before they are digested.

The AspireAssist system consists of a thin tube implanted in the stomach, connecting to an outside port on the skin of the belly. About 30 minutes after finishing a meal, users connect the port to an external device, which drains some of the recently-consumed food into the toilet.

The manufacturer says its system removes about 30 percent of food stored in the stomach before it begins causing weight gain.

It's the latest in a series of new options for millions of obese Americans who have been unable to lose weight via more traditional methods. About 38 percent of all U.S. adults are obese.